Contact
Quality4Children
z.Hd. Mag. Elisabeth Ullmann-Gheri
Wolkensteingasse 2
A-6020 Innsbruck
Email: office@quality4children.org
We are a group of people with diverse backgrounds and many years of experience in the area of child and youth care:
Dr. Christian Posch
Q4C Co-Founder and Chairman
I was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1955, and am a proud father of three. I’m a psychologist, psychotherapist, and quality manager with 40 years of experience in international child & family support and alternative care. For the last years, I have served as the Honorary President of the Austrian NGO FICE Austria (http://www.fice.at), which advocates for quality care for children at risk, family support, and quality standards in alternative care. I am also the founder of "Quality Care Consulting," an independent consulting network focusing on quality care projects worldwide, and the co-founder of Quality4Children.
Previous positions include Project Director for SOS Children’s Villages Austria and International Programme Director of SOS Children’s Villages International, the largest organization involved in family- and community-based care and active in over 130 countries. My favorite topics include assessment of child and youth care organizations, quality management, organizational development, and strategy. I conduct training sessions and lectures on quality management in alternative care, youth welfare systems, and offer coaching and supervision for professionals and leaders.
Elisabeth Ullmann
Q4C Co-Founder and Chairwoman
I hold an MA in Psychology and qualifications in "Quality Management in Social Organizations" and "Play Pedagogy" and worked for SOS Children‘s Villages International in various positions for over 30 years.
My passion has always been with parents, caregivers and other child and youth care practitioners, who provide care & support to families, children and young people around the world. Most projects I managed focused on strengthening their working conditions, support structures, and development opportunities. I facilitated quality standards and policy development processes and exchange on various child and youth care topics within multicultural contexts. I co-edited the book "Traumatic Experiences of Children" and co-authored "Women’s Lives. SOS Mothers Around the World Tell Their Stories". In my last 5-year project with SOS Children’s Villages International, I coordinated a project team that developed a learning and development framework for child and youth care practitioners and rolled it out in over 30 countries. I am happy to have two wonderful kids and live with my partner in Innsbruck, Austria.
Werner van der Westhuizen
Board Member Programme & Evaluation
Werner is a social worker consultant in private practice based in South Africa. "I started my career in 1996 as a probation officer for the Department of Social Services, in a pilot project which was part of the transformation of the child and youth care system in South Africa. I was introduced to the leading academics and practitioners in the CYC field, many of whom remained a guiding influence in my life. After 7 years, I become a director at SOS Children’s Villages in Port Elizabeth. As a residential staff member, I had one foot in management and another in direct practice with children and young people in alternative care. After 13 years, I entered private practice as a therapist and soon began creating and facilitating workshops for professionals on mental health and CYC practice-related topics. From 2020 to 2024, I worked as a consultant to SOS CVs to write competency portfolios and workshop programmes with a team of gifted professionals. I offer consultancy to organizations, and create and facilitate workshop content.
I hold an MA in Clinical Social Work and an MA in Psychology, am certified in hypnotherapy and have certifications in NLP and EMDR. I previously served as a board member of CYC-Online, and am currently on the editorial board for Relational Child & Youth Care Practice.
Solène Frund
Board Member & Treasurer
I began working in teaching and alternative care while studying for a bachelor’s degree in Psychology 14 years ago, later completing a master’s degree in Children’s Rights. Since then, I have worked with the United Nations and several international NGOs, coordinating and monitoring global programmes promoting children’s right to a safe home and to education.
At SOS Children’s Villages International, I spent two years as part of the team developing and implementing a modern Learning and Development approach for child and youth care professionals.
Since 2025, I have balanced my time between direct work with children and families in Tyrol—where I have relocated and am growing roots—and contributing to international initiatives through administrative support, project management, and translation. I enjoy wearing different hats and engaging with new challenges. I am particularly passionate about capacity building and about developing projects that bring people, perspectives, and ideas together.
Dr. Teresa Ngigi
Associate
I am an international Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist whose focus is on Trauma-informed Care as well as Child Protection. I am originally from Kenya, but live in Trieste, Italy, with my family. I hold a BEd in Psycho-Pedagogy, a Higher Diploma in Psychological Counselling, a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and Management, a PhD in Psychology and Culture, and a Post-Doctorate in Trauma-informed Care. I wrote several articles and gave media interviews. My books include "Breaking the Cycle - the Role of Auntie Rosie in Trauma-informed Care" and "Trauma and Adoption". I travelled to many countries sensitizing and training people on Mental Health, with a special emphasis on Trauma and Child Protection. My main goal in life is to make a difference in people’s lives, as well as to offer hope that it is possible to break the chains that prevent them from being fully alive.
My website www.teresangigi.com details some of the experiences and ideas I offer to people.
www.linkedin.com/in/ngigi-teresa-phd-b83b7015
www.teresangigi.com
Hilda O’Callaghan
Associate
Hilda O’Callaghan is a qualified Emotional Intelligence Trainer, Marriage and Relationship Educator and Dispute Resolution Mediator and has facilitated learning for the past 38 years in Australia and internationally. Her last full-time employment was with the Australian Red Cross as Manager of the Family Support Department. Hilda holds qualifications in Psychology and Criminology and has a Masters Degree in Training and Development. She is an Accredited Edward De Bono Six Thinking Hat Consultant and has run Lateral Thinking Workshops for Children, teachers and corporate groups. For the past 15 years Hilda has travelled to different countries to deliver Protective Behaviours training. She travels to South Africa multiple times each year and just in SA alone, she has trained more than 3.000 Social Workers and Teachers who in turn, deliver the program to groups of children and teenagers in the community. Hilda’s goal is to achieve a safer world for all and to ensure that all children are empowered with the knowledge and skills of the Protective Behaviours Program. Every child has the right to feel safe at all times and the opportunity to develop to their full potential.
Maryvonne Lorenzen
Associate
As a consultant, trainer, and executive coach, I help clients worldwide to move forward, make conscious choices, and achieve their potential. My particular expertise lies in the field of leadership and cross-cultural challenges, where I coach and advise organizations, managers, and teams. Before working as a coach, I held various management positions in large international organizations, focusing on marketing and strategic account management.
For the last five years, I have worked as a consultant for a project led by SOS Children’s Villages as a trainer and coach to improve the competencies of caregivers and their support staff.
I have lived and worked on 3 continents and am fluent in French, German, and English. I am also a co-author of the book “Make the right choices,” published in French and English. Today I live in Lyon, France.
What is key for me: I am passionate about coaching people to support them in finding their own way, becoming more aware, and making decisions aligned with their essence and potential. I bring my energy and my warmth to inspire my clients and help them achieve growth and fulfillment.
Irene Gleirscher
Associate
I am an internationally experienced process facilitator, systemic change manager and Art of Hosting practitioner. I support teams, organisations and managers in reflection, change and learning processes to promote collaboration, clarity and sustainable development.
Thanks to my background in educational science and systemic change management, I combine analytical thinking with participatory and dialogue-oriented approaches. For over twenty years, I have been working at the interface of organisational development and adult education. For 25 years, I was part of the SOS Children’s Villages Hermann Gmeiner Academy, where I headed the education department for over ten years and was responsible for international learning and development projects.
As project manager, I coordinated the development of the global learning and development framework for SOS Children’s Villages International. I also designed and facilitated programmes on topics such as onboarding, knowledge sharing, organisational culture, intercultural competence and facilitation amongst others. From 2020 to 2023, I was part of the ‘Learning & Development Framework for Child and Youth Care Practitioners’ project and helped train learning and development facilitators from more than 30 countries.
Since the end of 2024, I have been working as an independent consultant, supporting companies and organisations in the development of learning strategies, team processes and leadership transitions. My work is characterised by a systemic approach.
Irene Gleirscher | LinkedIn
Elizabeth Kaiyu Musya
Associate
Master Clinical Psychologist Counsellor: 10 yrs+ in counselling psychology; Accredited Professional Mediator: 5 yrs+ training and mentoring new mediators. Specializations: special needs assessment, child protection & safeguarding, trauma-informed psychosocial support, mental health, grief and loss therapy, child-focused interventions.
Key professional impact: 22 years of dedicated work with vulnerable children and families, navigating sensitive safeguarding investigations with professionalism and empathy; extensive experience working with law courts to advocate for children’s rights and responsibilities.
International training role: Served as a trainer of trainers (ToT) and lead facilitator across multiple countries. L&D for CYC practitioners Programme Kenya, 2023: Rolled out comprehensive program to equip caregivers to holistically raise children, teenagers, and youth.
Head of Children’s Ministry – Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK), elevated from departmental head to church Elder; representing FGCK in collaboration with UKIAMKA to develop a universal curriculum and guide for holistic child development in learning institutions and churches globally; 22 countries participating.
Approach & philosophy: rooted in deep listening, cultural sensitivity, and evidence-based practices; focused on restoring dignity and hope through trauma-informed care; champion of holistic care and emotional safety, recognized as a national authority in mental health and child-focused interventions.