Our People
We know what matters to young people because we are young people, so why not let us share your stories?
WhyNot is run by a volunteer editorial committee - or EC - who are passionate, a little quirky and a lot enthusiastic about getting your work published for the world to see!
Our team want to stand with you as you share your thoughts, feelings, comments and opinions - amplifying your voice.
Our team are committed to making sure that you are supported from submission to publication and beyond.
Meet your Editorial Committee
Aileen Ng (she/her)
Creative Core
With a love for illustration and topical issues, Aileen first joined WhyNot as a contributing artist. Now, she’s a regular illustrator for the digital platform. After completing her bachelor degrees in engineering and design, Aileen initially worked as an engineer. Her struggle with the daily grind led to the birth of Cartoons for Sanity - a comic series that pokes fun at the bizarity of our day-to-day existence.
Thanks to an existential crisis and a move into a career as a designer, Aileen has finally found her true passion. She hopes to use her illustrations to create conversations that allow other young people to tell their own personal stories. You can check out more of her work at aileenng.com.
Lauren Pollock (she/her)
Dream Alchemist
After stumbling through a business degree and reluctantly starting a law degree, Lauren finally found her feet in the world of creatives and chatterboxes, enthusiastically finishing a degree in Comms. Starting out in children’s television (Totally Wild, right!?) and then working alongside the amazing TEDx Brisbane team, Lauren discovered an appetite for sharing stories and ideas that excite and inspire.
Currently she spends her days splitting her time between the world of innovation and strategy to help change perspectives to create value beyond expectations AND working with the incredible WhyNot EC to help deliver content that is both relevant and thought provoking, building an online community of like-minded, inspired and passionate individuals.
Maeson Harvey (they/them)
Editor Extraordinaire
Maeson started at Y WA in 2019 as a Business Trainee, completing a Cert III in Business, before moving into their current role as the Youth Advocate. With volunteer experience in community organisations, they are always keen to use their skills for a social purpose.
You can usually find Maeson planning their next camping trip and spending too much money fitting out other people’s cars with DIY camping set-ups. Their passion for coffee mugs has led to a takeover of every available shelf space in the house, and they’re not ashamed to look high and low in search of their missing work mugs.
Maeson believes everyone deserves the opportunity to be their authentic selves and is dedicated to creating safe communities for them to do so.
Sam Duffy-Yates (she/her)
Ambassador of Buzz
With a degree in graphic and communication design, Sam joined the Y Canberra at the end of 2020 after several years in the Melbourne design scene.
A creative at heart, Sam has backgrounds in interior design, a love for illustration and photography, and a passion for using design to help, connect and inspire people and just generally make the world a better place. She is excited to get to the heart of what is important to young people in WhyNot.
When she’s not creating a new design or planning out social media schedules, you’ll find Sam on her yoga mat, watering her indoor jungle of houseplants, planning a new adventure, or demanding love from her little cat, Truffle.
Caitlin Clark (she/her)
Light Bulb Moment Collector
After completing various qualifications in a range of topics including mental health, hair and beauty, alcohol and other drug work, special effects makeup and finally community services, Caitlin found her sense of humour and down-to-earth approach naturally led her to working with young people. Caitlin spent several years working in the area of youth homelessness and developed an appetite for advocacy and highlighting issues affecting young people.
You’ll often find Caitlin planning or fantasising about her next international trip and Excel spreadsheeting the entire thing. She loves talking about and experiencing other cultures and just talking in general, being a bit of a chatterbox. When she’s not talking to other people, she’s likely talking to her two very spoilt dogs.
Caitlin is passionate about uplifting young people's voices and providing them with the skills and platform to have their story or opinion heard.
Tina Flaskas (she/her)
Punctuation Prodigy
As a busy-bee, Tina is juggling her studies of Forensic Science and Law with working at the Y NSW. Tina started working at the Y NSW at the end of 2020 and has been involved on all fronts within the Youth Parliament Program.
She has a passion for all things politics, and you can often find her nerding out reading through news polls or policy. She is passionate about young people becoming more vocal and heard within the political space in NSW.
Tina is also on an advocacy journey, growing her passion for humanitarian and women’s rights within our ever-connected cyber world. Although loving the books, Tina has an adventurous side! She is constantly planning her next trip.
Next up… Everest Base Camp!
Nic Westall (he/him)
Conversation Architect
Hey team! My name is Nic and I am very excited to join the WhyNot EC. Like everyone, I hate writing bio's, but here we go!
I have a Bachelor of Communications and since uni have gained a broad range of experience in marketing, social media and general media. I produced a breakfast radio program for a year which was amazing experience - apart from the 5.30 starts. From there I was approached by bet365 in Sydney to be a social media editor for their brand. But with 12 months under my belt, I felt I wanted to go in a different direction and found work at a youth rehab clinic. Here I helped facilitate the rehabilitation program while running classes and acting as a mentor to some amazing young people.
After two years I was ready to get back into comms/marketing so applied at this place called the Y! and the rest is history. Outside of work, I am a sports nuffy, obsessed with AFL, basketball and cricket. Music is a massive part of my life and I am very lucky to have a close group of friends and a supportive family who I love very much! I am very excited to bring my perspective to WhyNot and learn heaps from all you amazing people!
Lauren Cotterill (she/her)
Oxford Comma Destroyer
A country girl from the snowy mountains, Lauren grew up skiing and adventuring in the great outdoors.
After finishing school she moved into the Early Years Education sector for a gap year that accidentally became a long term career.
Almost 13 years later, she is now a Centre Director as well as a passionate advocate for the ECEC sector, climate action and for children from trauma backgrounds.
In her off time she can be found creating things or enjoying a nice warm cup of tea.
Lauren is currently studying a Bachelor in Sociology and Journalism and hopes to use this to amplify the voices of others and to make a positive impact on our society for the next generation.
