Kathleen Wincen is a proud Budjiti woman from Western Queensland, a Practicing Solicitor with a Master of Law and she is a Community Engagement Professional with more than two decades of successful experience in positions supporting the recognition and achievement of vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community.

Kathleen is recognised consistently for performance excellence and contributions to success in Community Legal, University and Private Sectors, as well as her Volunteer Roles within the community.

As a committed advocate, Kathleen has delivered the Seniors Legal and Support Service for Senior Australian’s experiencing Elder Abuse, in Toowoomba and surrounding regions for over three years through her role where she worked as a Solicitor.  Kathleen has worked as a Family and Wills and Estate Solicitor in Private practice before joining the Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland as a Senior Practitioner.

Kathleen is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Family Legal Services Queensland, out of the head office in Toowoomba, where she runs all four offices in Roma, Murgon, Toowoomba and Gympie.

Kathleen has also been a Tutor at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) with the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) where she has provided law students with academic support and study assistance.

Her volunteer roles include committee membership on the Darling Downs Health Service Boards in various positions, a member of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Assistance Forum, Native Title Director and she was also a Community Legal Centre – Queensland, First Nations Group Member.

Kathleen is also, a wife to Luke, a mother to Mariah and Annabelle and a Ninny to Chloe and Charlee.

Sandra Keogh is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service and has been with the service for over 18 years. Sandra has held a number of positions throughout her time and returned to the service after working for the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women as the Integration Manager for the domestic and family violence High Risk Team in Cairns.

Sandra also held a casual position with Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia as a Men’s behaviour Change Counsellor in collaboration with the National Rugby League and their Secondary Prevention Counselling Program. Sandra is currently Co-Chair of the Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network (QDVSN).

Ritu Shrestha is a dedicated social worker and social justice advocate with extensive experience in supporting women in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector. Currently a Senior Team Leader at Immigrant Women’s Support Service (IWSS), Ritu actively engages in prevention, response, and recovery services, particularly for women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

With over 15 years of hands-on experience in human rights-based organisations in Australia and internationally and an academic foundation, she brings a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and trauma-informed care with an intersectional lens. Ritu is not just a professional; she is a compassionate advocate, a skilled practitioner, and a visionary leader committed to creating a violence-free, safe, equitable, and just society for all, especially for the most vulnerable, marginalised women and children.

Mena Waller is the Director for 54 reasons, leading a domestic, family and sexual violence portfolio across Queensland in remote and urban settings. This work includes accommodation services, crisis response, violence prevention and education as well as integrated system models of service. In addition to this, Mena oversees child, youth and family services that support safety, connection and development for women and children.

The breadth of Mena’s experience spans practice and leadership within for-purpose, Aboriginal community controlled and government sectors. She’s worked in national development roles including practice design and having lived and led teams in very remote parts of the country. She brings experience currently serving on several government advisory and board director positions focusing on effectively influencing and responding to strategic, operational and policy driven agendas.

Mena is a descendant of Walman Yawuru people in Kimberley Western Australia, with family ties across Northern Australia. Mena’s lived experience is influenced by inherent indigenous values of rights, respect, reciprocity, relationships and responsibility.

Brett Hayes is an experienced professional with a strong background in domestic violence intervention and support services. As the Men’s DFV Program Coordinator at EDON Place, Brett has been instrumental in designing and facilitating group programs for men who perpetrate domestic and family violence (DFV). He is an experienced group work facilitator, known for creating safe and effective environments where participants can engage, learn and grow.

Brett’s work focuses on providing comprehensive assessments, one-on-one counseling, and court support to help individuals make informed decisions that positively impact their lives and the well-being of their families. He has a proven track record in program development, interagency collaboration and leadership within the DFV sector. His commitment to empowering individuals and enhancing service delivery is evident in his ability to manage complex cases, lead teams and develop programs that address the unique needs of diverse populations.

Liz Carney is the Family Violence Regional Manager QLD for The Salvation Army (TSA), primarily working across the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Mackay and Isaac Regions. Whilst in this role, Liz has supported the substantial growth of TSA Family Violence Services across Queensland. Liz holds a qualification in Social Work and since 2014 has held various front line and leadership positions in Government and non-Government agencies.

Heidi Fowler has previously worked for the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Corrections; focusing for the last 17 years on domestic and family violence (DFV) and child protection in the not-for-profit sector. Heidi is currently working for Act for kids as the Director of Family Support Services in Southern Queensland.

Heidi’s focus has been on service system collaboration and supporting women and children in regional and remote areas.  She is passionate about ensuring children’s voices are heard when DFV impacts family functioning and childhood development.

Heidi holds a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Post Graduate Studies in Leadership, Workplace Health and Safety and Public Safety.

For over two decades, Michelle Royes has been dedicated to domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention and response, and child protection, with extensive experience in regional and statewide service delivery across Queensland. As a leader at DVConnect, Michelle oversees four statewide services, working specifically in domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) with women, children and men. Michelle leverages her expertise in child and family work, and working with people that use violence to progress our collective work to make safer communities.

Her background includes qualifications as a men’s behaviour change facilitator, involvement in research efforts and work with national and international partners on DFV projects. Michelle has direct experience living in regional Queensland and working with diverse First Nations communities, advocating for cultural safety and self-determination. Currently, as Director of Social Impact and Advocacy, Michelle addresses policy impacts and advocate for comprehensive responses to DFV, and was honoured as a 2023 QCOSS Community Impact Awards Human Rights Award finalist.

Amanda Alford is a human rights lawyer with 15 years experience across government and the not-for-profit sector both domestically and internationally. Amanda is currently the Director of Government Relations, Policy and Evidence at Our Watch.

Prior to joining Our Watch, Amanda was a Director at the Australian Human Rights Commission and worked on the Set the Standard Report as part of the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces. Amanda has also worked in senior leadership roles at Community Legal Centres Australia and the Disability Royal Commission as well as in roles at the Australian Law Reform Commission and Australian Government Solicitor. Amanda lives in Meanjin with her wife and two children.

Mitra Khakbaz is passionately committed to driving positive social change that enhances the quality of life for women and girls living across remote and regional locations. With over two decades of experience in senior roles within the non-profit sector, she has honed her expertise at the intersection of humanitarian and development initiatives, focusing on gender equity, women’s empowerment, and the prevention of domestic and gender-based violence.

Throughout her career, Mitra has been dedicated to designing and implementing impactful projects in complex socio-political environments. Her extensive experience in managing community-led initiatives has enabled her to successfully lead numerous projects on both national and international scales. Her work spans across humanitarian and development programs, as well as broader human services, with a special emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region. Mitra is CEO of Gladstone Women’s Health Centre and member of Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network (QDVSN) and Workplace Health and Safety Australia (WHSA) and a management committee member of Queensland Sexual Assault Network (QSAN).

Alana Thrift is a proud Kamilaroi woman and a dedicated leader in the domestic and family violence (DFV) sector. As the Program Manager of a specialist domestic and family violence program at YFS, she oversees critical initiatives aimed at supporting victim-survivors. Alana also serves as a counsellor with 13 YARN, where she provides essential support and guidance.

With nearly a decade of experience within the DFV sector across New South Wales and Queensland, Alana is committed to fostering equality and empowering those affected by violence. Her work is driven by a deep passion for advocating societal and systemic changes to enhance the lives of victim-survivors, promote healing, and support recovery.

Sono Leone Weatherall is a Butchulla & Garrawa Woman who was born and lives on Turrbal and Yuggera lands in Brisbane. Sono has had an extensive career in the public service spanning over 12 years and has also worked in her community with her people since she was 17 years old in different capacities.

In 2017, she became the Founder and CEO of Strong Women Talking – Marigurim Mubi Yangu Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders Corporation, a domestic and family violence (DFV) organisation that is passionate about breaking the cycle of violence for First Nation women and children. She has also been a participant in Breaking Silent Codes in New South Wales in 2018. Sono was one of 11 women on Our Watch’s Changing The Picture: A national resource to support the prevention of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children. Sono is one of eight authors on the Indigenous Women’s Movements in Australia published by The Equality Institute in 2024.

Sono has been a passionate advocate for breaking the cycle of violence against First Nation women and their children for the last decade and continues to be a sort after Keynote Speaker at many forums and conferences across Australia. As a survivor, she developed and designed the Healing Journey Program which is a trauma informed, strength-based program that has now been recognised by the Queensland Government in 2024 and has seen many First Nation women participate in over the last seven years. Her faith, culture, passion & commitment to her people, in particular First Nations women, children and families is what drives her as a leader in the DFV sector across Queensland and the Nation.

Emma Iwinska is the CEO of Women’s Health and Equality Queensland, an organisation improving women’s health, promoting gender equity and working across communities to end domestic, family and sexual violence. Emma holds formal qualifications in health, leadership and higher education and embraces a philosophy of lifelong learning.

Emma’s work focuses on improving healthcare access and equity for women and marginalised groups, providing healing and recovery services for people after violence, and working on the structural change needed so that violence doesn’t occur in the first place.  Emma loves collaboration and is passionate about creating a world where all women are equitably resourced, healthy, safe and thriving.

Brodie is an experienced leader in the domestic violence field, specialising in interventions with persons using violence (PuV). They lead a team of PuV intervention specialist workers, overseeing the Responsible Men program at YFS Ltd in Logan, and is the current Secretary of Services and Practitioners for the Elimination of Abuse QLD (SPEAQ).

Brodie continues to facilitate men’s behaviour intervention groups, provides clinical supervision and training to domestic violence practitioners, and organises a state-wide Community of Practice for the PuV intervention workforce. Passionate about DFV prevention and responses in the LGBTIQA+ community, Brodie is also a founding member of Queer and Trans Workers Against Violence (QTWAV) and recently joined the management committee for Diverse Voices. Coming from academia and graduating from their PhD (Criminology) in 2018, Brodie remains a Visiting Fellow for Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Centre for Justice.