Matt (“Wiley”) and Beck Wilesmith are our Directors and serve as the leaders of the Youth Alive NSW family. They have been investing in young people and leaders since 2006 and carry a deep passion to see teenagers saved, leaders raised, and the Church strengthened across Australia. From 2014 to 2024 they served as Youth Pastors at Hope Unlimited Church, overseeing youth ministry across six campuses and building thriving leadership pipelines.
Wiley is a trained PDHPE secondary teacher who has spoken in high schools across the nation on respectful relationships and wellbeing. Beck holds a Bachelor of Communications and has worked in politics, the not-for-profit sector, and international aid and development, and currently works with Micah Australia.
Together, Wiley and Beck are the heart, the vision, and the driving force behind Youth Alive NSW. They lead with authenticity, courage, and a genuine love for people, creating a culture that feels like family while empowering a generation to live boldly for Jesus. They are parents to Jack, Alfie, and Brooks and are an incredible blessing to the Youth Alive family.
Klummy, as he’s affectionately known, pioneered the Academy in NSW in 2018, but has been part of the Youth Alive family since 2013.. He’s the kind of leader every leader wants on their team — capable, dependable, and always ready to step up. There’s not much Klummy can’t do, and if you say he can’t, he’ll probably prove you wrong!
Klummy pastors the Port Stephens campus of Hope Unlimited Church and previously served as a Youth Pastor for 12 years. He is also a trained PDHPE secondary teacher and brings a wealth of experience working with young people in both church and school settings.
Under Klummy’s leadership, the Academy provides an environment that is both safe and stretching — a place where students are encouraged to grow, develop, and step confidently into their potential. Klummy is a cornerstone of the Academy and a deeply valued part of the Youth Alive NSW family.
Nick serves as our Regional Growth Leader, working closely under the leadership of Matt and Beck to strengthen and expand the Youth Alive NSW family across the state. He is responsible for our Regional Growth strategy, supporting Regional Leaders and helping ensure each region is healthy, connected, and positioned to thrive.
Nick is the Founder and Director of Bolt Media, a creative agency made up of a multi-talented team specialising in content, strategy, management, and design. He brings both creative insight and strategic thinking into his leadership, helping regions communicate well and grow sustainably.
Alongside his wife Denise, Nick serves as our Sydney South West Regional Leader. Together they led as Youth and Young Adults Ministry Directors at C3 New Hope from 2019 to 2026, building strong communities and developing leaders across multiple generations.
Nick is deeply relational, encouraging, and passionate about unity across the Church. He invests personally in leaders, helping them lead with confidence, vision, and longevity. He is dad to Jesse and a deeply valued part of Team NSW and the wider Youth Alive family.
Emma (“Em”) serves as Head of Operations and Events and as Hunter Regional Leader. She has been involved in youth ministry since 2011 and, since 2022, has served as Youth Pastor alongside her husband Isaiah at LIVEfree Church. Em carries a deep passion to see young people thrive, belong, and step confidently into their purpose.
With over a decade of experience running events of all sizes, Em brings exceptional organisational skill, strategic thinking, and attention to detail to everything she leads. She holds qualifications in Community Services and has extensive experience working with disadvantaged and at-risk young people, bringing both professional expertise and deep compassion to her role.
Em oversees operations, administration, communications, and logistics, ensuring environments are safe, excellent, and impactful. Known for her warmth, strength, and genuine care for people, she builds strong teams and creates spaces where leaders and young people feel supported and empowered. She is also Mum to Boaz and Evie and brings that same nurturing heart into everything she does. Em is a treasured part of Team NSW.
Josh is our Sydney YA Academy Coordinator and carries a strong passion to see young people encounter the love of the Father and step into their God-given purpose. He has invested faithfully in youth ministry for many years and is deeply committed to raising healthy, faith-filled leaders who will influence their generation for Jesus.
Josh serves as Associate Pastor at Urban Life Church in Menai, where he previously served as Youth Pastor until 2024. He continues to invest deeply in young people and leaders while supporting his wife Alicia, who leads the youth ministry. Josh holds a Bachelor of Theology and is known for his steady leadership, genuine care for people, and ability to make others feel seen and encouraged. He is a valued part of the Youth Alive NSW Team.
Stef Higgins is our Hunter YA Academy Coordinator and brings a steady, nurturing, and deeply relational leadership style to everything she does. She has been serving in youth leadership at HopeUC Newcastle since 2010 and has been a valued part of the Youth Alive NSW team in various roles since 2021.
Stef carries a genuine heart to see young people grow in confidence, faith, and leadership, and she creates environments where students feel safe, supported, and challenged to step into all God has for them. Her consistency, wisdom, and care make her a trusted voice for both students and leaders alike.
As Hunter Academy Coordinator, Stef helps shape a culture of belonging, growth, and discipleship, ensuring young leaders are equipped not only for ministry, but for life. She is mum to two beautiful girls and brings that same warmth, strength, and nurturing heart into the way she leads.
Chris Van Der Wielen is our ACT YA Academy Coordinator. A pastor, musician, and worship leader based in Canberra, Chris carries a deep heart to see young people and leaders encounter God and grow in authentic worship. He has served the Youth Alive movement for many years, including as Regional Leader for ACT from 2020 to 2024, and now serves as Associate Pastor at Awaken Church Canberra South alongside his wife Bec.
Chris is a highly gifted musician and producer, having studied at the ANU School of Music and worked alongside leading Australian artists, while also releasing his own worship music. More than his musical excellence, Chris is known for his servant heart, pastoral strength, and passion to equip the Church to go deeper in worship. Chris and Bec are the founders of Gravity Worship and are raising two beautiful children, Theo and Eliza. Chris is an incredible asset to our team.
The primary responsibility of our regional leaders is to build strong relationships in their region. The health and strength of a region is determined by the health and strength of the relationships within that region. We seek to build unity between Churches and denominations, we’re just better together!
Our regional leaders have a plethora of experience in ministry and are available to coach, support, and resource youth and young adult leaders if they’d like. Other responsibilities include facilitating region-wide leaders and youth events and working to ensure no youth or young adult pastor is alone.
If you'd like to get in contact with any of the Regional Leaders below, please email admin@hunteryouthalivensw.com.au and we will connect you with your Regional Leader
Youth Alive is a Christian organisation founded by the Australian Christian Churches (ACC) that operates in every state in Australia. The concept for Youth Alive was formed in 1982 at a camp in Victoria. It was birthed out of genuine concern and passion for reaching young Australians with a positive message. This concern was being felt in a similar fashion in every other state, and in June 1986, youth leaders from around the nation met in Melbourne to discuss plans to make an impact on this issue. Out of this meeting, Youth Alive was formed with its first national director, Mal Fletcher. Not a week goes by without the media reporting appalling statistics regarding the youth crisis in Australia today. It’s statistics like these that drive the heart of every member of Youth Alive. Our young people are the future of our nation, and we believe that this is a future worth living. Therefore, it is our purpose to bring a message of hope and encouragement to those in need and then go beyond this by providing genuine support through local youth groups to help teenagers realise their potential.
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