Your 2026 Westfield Chermside Local Hero is:

Suki O'Dea

Nexus Care’s Fresh Start Food Program

Driven, Compassionate, Resilient

Suki O'Dea has been awarded a $20,000 grant for their organisation, Nexus Care.

For nine years, Suki O’Dea has led an army of volunteers to distribute hundreds of thousands of meals to families in need across greater north Brisbane.

She is described as the powerhouse behind Nexus Care’s Fresh Start Food Program, tirelessly serving the community from a small kitchen in Everton Park.

Last year alone, 600 children were fed through the program’s Brekky Clubs, and 4,520 food parcels were given to local households.

With a passion for nutrition, Suki is motivated to ensure every parcel is healthy, and her dedication ensures those who might otherwise go without are supported with dignity and care.

“Each day I am humbled by the people I meet, facing some of life’s toughest challenges,” says Suki.

“I can’t imagine the pain of a parent with no food on the table.”

Thanks to Suki’s leadership, Nexus Care partners with food-rescue organisations such as OzHarvest, FoodBank and Secondbite to divert food from landfill and ensure nothing goes to waste. And her personal commitment is clear - from volunteering through natural disasters, the global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, to learning Australian Sign Language to make every guest feel welcome.

“It is an honour and a privilege to do this,” says Suki. “I believe in what we do and the impact we can have in people’s lives.”

We'd like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5,000 grant for the organisation they represent

Carolina Puleston

Commonkind

Caring, Inspiring, Visionary

Carolina Puleston has built a charity that creates volunteering opportunities for young people and families in North Brisbane. Her programs – including packing breakfast boxes and mobilising community donations – help the next generation to understand social issues and become compassionate citizens, while also providing much-needed help to those in need.

Mia Bannister

Ollie’s Echo: Pathways to Prevention

Courageous. Purposeful. Pioneering

Through the charity she established in memory of her son, Mia Bannister delivers prevention education and advocates for earlier recognition and support of eating disorders. Mia works with schools, clinicians, businesses and communities to protect all young people, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked experiences of boys and young men.

If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 13 11 14

Recognising all our 2026 nominees

View all of the Westfield Chermside nominees and their organisations.

2027 Nominations Now Open

Do you know someone making a difference in your community? Tell us in 200 words why they should be a Westfield Local Hero and they could receive a $20,000 grant for their organisation.

Find out more here

---

Westfield Local Heroes: A Financial Review award-winning program

Since its inception in 2018, the Westfield Local Heroes program has granted over $11 million to over 1,000 community organisations. In recognition of the program and its social impact, Scentre Group (owner and operator of Westfield destinations in Australia and New Zealand) was recently named as this year’s winner of the Financial Review Sustainability Leaders in the Retail, hospitality, tourism and entertainment category. Read more about the award and the program’s impact here.