Our Founder

Jan Owen AM – Founder

In 1993 Jan Owen founded the Australian Association of Young People in Care (AAYPI). Jan was driven to establish this Association after her work in various child and family welfare organisations showed that children going into foster care were often having terrible experiences. As inaugural CEO she led CREATE for nine years. In 1999 AAYPI became a national organisation with offices in each state and territory and changed its name to the CREATE Foundation.

She has over 25 years experience in the not for profit sector, including establishing and operating numerous organisations and cross sector partnerships including the National Coalition for Children and the National Children’s Summit; and, most recently, the Social Enterprise World Forum. She has held a range of key government appointments in the areas of child welfare, homelessness, youth and women and is the author of Every Childhood Lasts a Lifetime (1996).

Jan is currently CEO of Foundation for Young Australians and between 2002 and 2010 she was an Executive Director of Social Ventures Australia (SVA). She serves on the Boards of Inspire Foundation; Social Firms of Australia; International Women’s Development Agency and Enterprise Melbourne.

Jan first started working with disadvantaged youth in her early 20s, when she was studying social welfare at university and working part time as a drug and alcohol educator for children in inner Brisbane.

In 2000 she received membership to the Order of Australia for service to children and young people.

Jan continues her close connection with CREATE and served on the Board between 2007 and 2010.