PANDA Ambassadors

Chezzi is a producing powerhouse with extensive experience across television, radio and in the realm of politics. She has worked for years on shows such as Sunrise, Today Tonight and Seven News. Marrying husband Grant in 2010, the couple now reside on a farm in country New South Wales and have two young daughters, Sailor (7) and Scout (2).

Chezzi experienced postnatal anxiety when her daughter was a baby, yet despite numerous visits to health professionals this was never diagnosed. Chezzi was a tireless and passionate campaigner for PANDA Week 2018 as she shared her own story of traumatic birth and postnatal anxiety, as well as promoting PANDA’s Mental Health Checklist for Expecting and New Parents.

Shantelle Thompson is 33 years old and a proud Barkindji/Anglo-Saxon woman, mother of 3 (including twins), a survivor of post-natal-depression, two-time Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, community leader, Oceania Wrestling Champion, 2018 Commonwealth Games Wrestling Ambassador. Looking back, she thinks she might have experienced post-natal-depression with her first child, a daughter. But things were much worse after she had twins. She was tired and overwhelmed and breastfeeding two babies. She began training Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a form of physical therapy. This was the beginning of her fight to regain back her spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health and wellbeing back.

Lou Redman is an Australian Archery Champion and National Champion having competed at two World Championships, one World Games and several World Cups. Lou has two children, a loving husband, and works full-time.

Postnatal depression first struck after her first child and she battled through it alone. It wasn’t until after the birth of her second child that Lou took up archery as a means to defeat postnatal depression. Being outside in the sun, meeting new people, and having training goals allowed Lou to escape postnatal depression and once again enjoy life.

Matt Tilley has recently joined KIIS FM after being one half of Fox FM's high rating breakfast radio show 'The Matt and Jo Show' for many years in Melbourne, Australia. Matt and his wife have 3 children, and he recently referred to his experiences of being a dad on PANDA's new website How is Dad going? In 2008 Matt ran from Clarendon St in South Melbourne to Frankston and raised $91,500 for PANDA.

With a big personality, Samira cites her top three loves as her girls, shoes and bags. Samira says her mother's cooking is the best food she has ever eaten and her love of food has grown from family get-togethers throughout her life.Her dream is to open kitchen workshops for disadvantaged children in Australia where they can come and cook, have a good time and go home with the meals they've prepared.

Life changed for Samira when she experienced postnatal depression and as part of her recovery her attention turned to raising awareness among her community and new parents. Her experiences through Masterchef have also been life changing and provided her with the opportunity to encourage people to speak up and receive the assistance they need.

'I want to let women and men know this is just a hurdle in life and there is always an out! Mine was through my love of food and the help of loved ones. There is a way out, you just need to open up and accept help'