MEET OUR TEAM

We’re lucky to have a highly talented and committed team at Charlies Foundation for Research, working hard behind the scenes to realise our mission and vision.

Vicki Rasmussen

Hannah Doherty

Sarah Kidgell

Annika Rasmussen

Ryan Maher

Abbey Ritchie

Nathan Lattimore

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Vicki Rasmussen, FFIA, CFRE

Chief Executive Officer

“I love working at the Foundation because I believe that the high quality of medical care we enjoy today is built upon years of effort by dedicated and talented people investigating the causes of and potential treatments for diseases. The tireless effort of these professionals has made many life-threatening diseases a memory and I am passionate about continuing to support this work.”

Vicki joined Charlies Foundation for Research as Executive Director in 2016.

With over 25 years’ fundraising experience, Vicki has worked for some of Australia’s most respected not-for-profits, including Cancer Council WA, Mission Australia, the Heart Foundation WA and the Salvation Army, raising millions of dollars for worthy causes along the way.

In recognition of her efforts, Vicki was awarded the prestigious Arthur Venn Fundraising of the Year award from the Fundraising Institute of Australia in 2018.

Outside work, Vicki loves spending time with her husband and two daughters and is passionate about community service. As Deputy President of Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club, Vicki dedicates her nights to supporting the club and her weekends to surf competitions and training sessions with her daughters.

Hannah Doherty

Foundation Business Manager (on parental leave)

“My goal is to always be pushing the Foundation forward through continuous improvement, supporting our amazing fundraising team and our researchers to improve the lives of all West Australians.”

Hannah joined the Foundation in early 2022, coming from a customer service and administration management background. In her role as Foundation Services Coordinator, she orchestrates essential components of our operations, ensuring the seamless execution of initiatives that contribute in our mission to improve patient treatment outcomes.

With a passion for advancing medical research, Hannah's commitment is evident in her multifaceted role. She skilfully navigates the complexities of database management, ensuring the seamless organisation and accessibility of crucial information. In grant administration, Hannah plays a pivotal role in facilitating impactful research initiatives, overseeing the end-to-end process from application to execution.

In the realm of governance policy-making, Hannah is a key architect of the framework that governs the foundation's operations. Her role involves crafting and refining policies that uphold the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and compliance. Through her strategic insights, Hannah contributes to creating an environment conducive to impactful and ethical medical research.

Outside of work, Hannah enjoys spending time with her husband and her dog Twitch, hunting down the best cafes in Perth.

Sarah Kidgell

Fundraising Engagement Manager

"I am continually inspired by the amazing generosity from the WA community driven to make a difference and help make a positive impact. Working at the Foundation allows me to work closely with so many wonderful fundraisers, donors, researchers and hospital staff and witness the incredible impact being made through medical research.”

A people-focused professional who has enjoyed working across various non-for-profit organisations in the sports, events, and charity sectors, Sarah joined the Foundation in 2023 where she coordinates fundraising and community engagement activities.

Sarah’s passion is engaging and working closely with people to help drive value aligned and impactful activity to support health and well-being related outcomes.

Outside of work, Sarah is a committed player and life member at her netball club and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Annika Rasmussen

Annika Rasmussen

Fundraising Administration Coordinator

"Working at the Foundation makes me so proud, what we are helping the researchers achieve in incredible. I've always loved helping other people, I've been doing so for as long as I can remember. I’m excited and happy to be able to continue doing so in this role, building my skills in a way that’s different to anything I've done before."

Annika first joined the Foundation in October 2021.

In her role as Fundraising Administration Officer, she is instrumental in the smooth running of the Foundation office, communicating with donors in a variety of ways and processing donations. Annika is our friendly voice on the other end of the phone!

Annika has been involved with Surf Life Saving for 13 years, loves to read and travel, while spending most of her spare time at the beach.

Ryan Maher

Ryan Maher

Marketing Coordinator

“My passion lies in purpose-driven work, leading with curiosity, and creating impact through human-centric storytelling. Here at the Foundation, I have the opportunity to help elevate powerful stories that aim to inspire radical generosity. I’m grateful to work with such an incredible community shaping healthcare in WA.”

Ryan joined the Foundation in 2024 as a Marketing Coordinator, bringing experience in not-for-profit, digital marketing, and global social impact. He works to develop marketing initiatives that aim to fuel radical generosity in the Western Australian community, supporting the next generation of medical research and projects.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys spending time outdoors, participating in Rotary, and reading about finance and business.

Abbey Ritchie

Abbey Ritchie

Foundation Business Manager

"I’m proud to be part of Charlies Foundation for Research, where I get to contribute to meaningful work that supports medical research and innovation. I enjoy the dynamic nature of my role and the opportunity to collaborate with passionate colleagues who are dedicated to making a difference in healthcare."

Abbey joined the Foundation late in 2024.

Outside of work, Abbey loves staying active—whether it’s training for triathlons, cycling, or running with her team. She is also a dedicated animal lover and has rescued and cared for many pets over the years. When Abbey is not on the move, you’ll find her spending time with her husband and their four-legged family.

Nathan Lattimore

Nathan Lattimore

Fundraising Coordinator

"It could be said that empathy turns our greatest vulnerabilities into our greatest strengths. My greatest privilege in working with the Foundation is seeing time and again the creative ways that our supporters' humanity and compassion, channelled through stringently selected, research-guided initiatives - can inch the outlooks of patients higher and brighter."
 
Nathan Joined the Foundation late in 2024.
 
A "new kid on the block" to the fundraising space, Nathan's 'wild-card entry' came from a decision to invest his career, both past and future, in making a positive difference. Nathan's background in hospitality and community organisation management, combined with his studies in business, and his love of people, have prepared him well for working closely with our appeals and community fundraising projects.
 
Nathan prides himself on having an eclectic collection of interests, including cooking, sailing, and jazz drumming.

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Without the generosity of our donors and supporters – people like you – this vital life-changing, life-saving research wouldn’t happen.