Welcome Sam - Head of Policy & Engagement

We’re thrilled to welcome Samantha Garbutt as our new Head of Engagement and Policy, joining us at an exciting period of growth for TRACTION for Young People.

This role marks an important step in strengthening how we demonstrate our impact and translate what works for young people into real systems change. Samantha will lead TRACTION’s policy, advocacy and influence agenda, build strategic partnerships across government, philanthropy and community, and help position TRACTION as a thought leader in youth engagement.

With a decade of experience scaling social enterprises and driving evidence-based change for young people including securing strategic funding partnerships and advocating for neurodivergent youth, Samantha brings deep expertise in impact measurement, policy influence and sustainable growth.

Samantha is passionate about early intervention and meeting young people where they’re at through mentoring and hands-on learning. She’s especially excited to enact TRACTION’s 2026–2031 strategy, amplifying the voices of young people and ensuring our evidence informs public policy, funding decisions and long-term systemic reform.

As Samantha puts it, early intervention is both the right thing, and the smart thing to do: investing proactively in connection, skills and support to deliver better outcomes for young people, schools and communities.

Welcome to the team, Samantha! We’re so excited for what’s ahead (and to learn more about your love of sports climbing, adventure hikes and a good board game along the way!).