Our Team

Samantha Payne

 Co-founder & CEO 

Sam experienced the heartache of multiple miscarriages and couldn’t find the support she needed. Together with Gabbi, she brought to life a vision of a #circleofsupport, a community where women were supported, nurtured, and empowered along their journeys. She has a degree in Media and a PostGrad in Education with a background in business development and she is currently studying for an MBA.  Sam’s a change-maker with a passion to make a difference. Read more on Sam's story here.

Jen Wilkinson

Workplace Program Coordinator

Jen brings with her a decade of experience in women's reproductive health and is passionate about supporting individuals and families during the perinatal period.  Her focus is to champion our "Fertility in the Workplace Program" in the hope to empower organisations with the knowledge, training, and tools necessary to create a workplace culture that not only accommodates but genuinely supports individuals navigating pregnancy loss and associated fertility challenges.

"I firmly believe that workplaces play a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of families going through grief and loss. I've witnessed firsthand the deep and lasting effect that empathy, understanding and validation can have for families during this heartbreaking time. It is a true privilege to be a part of such an incredible organisation that is driving meaningful change and making a difference to the lives of bereaved parents."

Stacey June Lewis

Bereavement Support Manager

Stacey June Lewis is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist with over a decade of experience in women’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. As Bereavement Support Manager & Podcast Host at Pink Elephants, she is dedicated to creating compassionate spaces for those navigating miscarriage and early pregnancy loss, ensuring tailored care for a community often suffering in silence.

With expertise in psychotherapy, counselling, mindfulness, and yoga, Stacey takes a holistic, person-centered approach to healing, drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience. Having navigated pregnancy loss and the emotional complexities of trying to conceive, she brings deep understanding and compassion to her work. In her private practice, she supports women through grief, anxiety & depression, self-worth challenges, and identity shifts, as well as those facing fertility struggles and miscarriage, offering a safe, validating space to process and heal.

An author, columnist, and former radio broadcaster, Stacey has spent over a decade advocating for real, meaningful conversations around women’s health and emotional well-being. 

Amanda Tipping 

Company Secretary of PE board

Amanda spends her days sharing our mission to normalise early pregnancy loss through evidence, empathy and compassion. Her focus is across the entire Pink Elephants business, helping to support our growing team deliver much needed support to anyone going through pregnancy loss or associated fertility challenges. 

"At 13 weeks I had to medically terminate my second pregnancy. Going through this experience has provided me with a level of empathy for all bereaved parents who experience similar heartbreak. I also know firsthand how important it is for every workplace to provide employees going through early pregnancy loss the time, support, compassion and help they need to validate this grief."

Jennifer Tupaea 

Chief Operating Officer

Jen joins the Pink Elephants team from a previous role at QBE - QBE being one of our Workplace Program partners. She comes with a wealth of experience in project management and will work closely with the entire PE team to generate ideas on how to streamline our systems and processes and increase efficiency of our operations.

"I've followed the amazing work of Pink Elephants for many years, and I am so excited to join Sam and the team in what promises to be a very exciting year ahead!"

Karina Stafford

Fundraising Manager & Workplace Coordinator

Karina is a sales and marketing professional. She started her career in a 'Drug & Alcohol Education / Not for profit Organisation' before moving to pharmaceuticals where she had the privilege of working on a number of life-saving medications in cancer, leukemia and schizophrenia. Most recently, she spent 12 years in recruitment, with the aim of finding candidates their dream job. What she learnt during this time was: 

"A company's culture isn't just about perks—it's about fostering relationships, trust, and support for employees. When people feel valued and supported, they're more engaged, innovative, and likely to stick around long term. In my experience this not only benefits the employee but also enhances customer experiences and overall business performance. It's a win-win for all."

Claire Brett

Fundraising Coordinator

Claire is also our Regional & Rural Ambassador. She was born in Moree, and has always lived in regional Australia, moving to New England from Mungindi QLD. Residing now in Kentucky NSW on a farm with her husband Jake and their two boys, Rosco and Jimmy.

Working with Karina, Claires focus is on supporting our incredible fundraising program and those individuals who help raise funds and awareness for Early Pregnancy Loss.

“Our life was smooth until I had several miscarriages after Rosco's birth, leading to an emotionally challenging time. After five miscarriages, I became pregnant with Jimmy, but the high-risk nature of my pregnancies caused immense anxiety - I required frequent hospital visits and medical procedures. Living far from medical facilities compounded my worry even more.”

Trish Tselepi

Digital Marketing Manager

Trish joined the team in August 2024 and has been an integral part ever since. She manages the day to day digital marketing and media campaigns for Pink Elephants while working towards increasing our awareness and reach amongst the communities that needs us most. One of the most recent campaigns Trish has led was our October 2024 campaign 'It's OK not to be OK' - the aim was to spread the message that it’s ok, wherever you are at, to feel what you are feeling and not feel you have to explain yourselves or justify your grief.

To be announced in March 2025! 

Service Delivery Manager

This exciting new role will lead, innovate, and grow service delivery programs within Pink Elephants. They will oversee the efficient and high-quality delivery of support services that align with our mission and strategic goals. This is a pivotal role in scaling our services sustainably to meet increasing demand while fostering a culture of evidence-based innovation and empathy.

"We can't wait to announce who will be filling this position soon!"

Jacqui Grant

People & Culture (HR)

Jacqui is an HR professional with over 15 years experience working in both London and Sydney. More recently Jacqui has worked as People & Culture Manager at Accent Group, where she oversaw the HR functions for a number of their retail brands and support offices. After taking maternity leave to have her third son, Jacqui has started working as a Career Development Facilitator at the UNSW.

"I have been privileged to watch Pink Elephants grow from an idea that was born out of grief, to an amazing charity that is supporting thousands of women and their families across the country. The work that Sam and Gabbi have done to give miscarriage a voice, and bring it into the spotlight has been amazing. With my background in HR, I want to be able to assist Pink Elephants in reducing the stigma of miscarriage within the workplace and provide training to other HR and people managers on how to best support their team members in their time of need. I am also passionate about ensuring our National Employment Standards allow women and their partners the option for leave to provide them the time and space to grieve their loss."

Tahyna McManus (Tozzi)

Tahyna is a director, writer, actress but above all a mother to two little humans and three angels. She is also a Patron for the Pink Elephants.

"I began shooting a documentary on miscarriage titled Misunderstandings Of Miscarriage after my second miscarriage and came across Sam & Gabbi and everything they have been doing. Pink Elephants have been incredibly supportive and have connected me with women all over Australia. I instantly felt like I wasn’t alone in my quest to open the conversation on miscarriage. It is an honour to be asked to be a Patron and I look forward to changing the way miscarriage is viewed within our society.  Tahyna xx "

Tahyna's documentary MUM - MisUnderstandings of Miscarriage - is on Netflix. You can watch the trailer here, and visit her website for more information https://www.mumdocumentary.com

Dr Sarah Jane

Award-winning Chiropractor and Counsellor, Dr Sarah Jane, Founder and Creator of Spinal Energetics, has touched the life of millions of people with her transformative healing modality, Spinal Energetics.

Dr Sarah has distinguished herself as one of Australia’s wellness leaders, with 15 years of educational studies behind her. Dr Sarah Jane is a Chiropractor, who has obtained further degrees in Psychology, and Philosophy, she is a holistic Counsellor, a qualified esoteric acupuncturist and holds a Graduate Certificate in Humanistic Buddhism. In an otherwise uncharted territory of wellness and energy healers, Dr Sarah has dedicated her life to research and educational studies.

Her mission in life is to help people heal physically and emotionally, to live a life of greater alignment. She would like to use her own complex experience around pregnancy loss, IVF, and exploring adoption, to educate and support others going through this tremendously painful and isolating journey.

B.App.Sc/B.H.Sc (Chiropractic) with Distinction, B.A (Psychology/Philosophy), / RYT 200 YTT/ Cert.Meds.Hol.Couns (IMTTA)/ Grad Cert Hum Buddhism, Cert Esoteric Acupuncture, M.App.Sci