Meet our committee

Deanna Jenkins
President
Deanna is from Sydney and is the mother of two. Her youngest, Amy was born at 28 weeks in April 2008. Deanna saw the opportunity to become involved in the NPF as a way of being able to give back and help others on their journey following premature birth. She hopes that her corporate experience, strong leadership skills and ability to get things done will be put to good use in her new role as President of the National Premmie Foundation.

Vanessa Neilson
Vice President
Vanessa is from Burnie in Tasmania. She is the mother of five, four of whom were born premature. As well as being a busy mum Vanessa is also a registered nurse working in the operating theatre of her local hospital. She has recently been blessed with a new addition Toby, who was born at 24 weeks in May.

Elizabeth Crocker
Secretary
Liz is from Sydney and is mum to premmie twins Zara and William born at 29 weeks. Liz assisted in last years National Premmie Day promotion. She is eager to do more to assist other prem parents especially those who have experienced the joys and stresses of multiple birth.

Eileen Cooke
Treasurer
Eileen is from Brisbane, Qld. Her first son was born in 1996, 11 weeks premature. Since that time she has been an active volunteer and board member of the Preterm Infants Parents Association (PIPA). She was instrumental in the formation of the National Premmie Foundation and has been a member of the NPF Board since it’s inception in 2007. She is also is a consumer representative on a number of Queensland Health and hospital base committees Eileen is passionate about improving the conditions and services available to parents of infants born premature.

Julia Toivonen
Website/Public Officer
Julia resides in Victoria and is mum to two sons. Ronan, her eldest, was born at 27 weeks . As a founding committee member of the National Premmie Foundation she played a key role originally in establishing and now maintaining the NPF website. As the owner of L’il Aussie Prems, Australia’s largest online premmie support forum, Julia has been able to fulfil her passion of helping families through the difficult journey of parenting a prem..

Rebecca Waterhouse
Newsletter and Publicity
Rebecca (Bec) is from Brisbane Qld and is mum to her daughter who was born at 26 weeks. After the birth of her daughter Bec decided that she’d like to do something to help other prem parents. She developed her own website to share her experience with other and is excited about the opportunity to become involved with the National Premmie Foundation. She hopes that, through the NPF and its associated support network, premmie parents all over Australia will find themselves better supported through their NICU/SCN and premmie journey.

Sarah Peatey
Fundraising and Sponsorship
Sarah is from Middlemount in Central Queensland. She is a very busy mum to four. The youngest two, Hayden and William being born premature. This experience as made her eager to assist other prem parents. Residing in Central Queensland she has experienced first hand the difficulty of accessing maternity services and health services for children with special needs.