Robyn is the Chief Executive Officer of MacKillop Family Services. She is passionate about social justice and the rights of children and families. As a social worker and family therapist, Robyn has over thirty years' experience in the child and welfare sector. Robyn is committed to training and supportive supervision for colleagues to provide best practice to the children and families we serve. When not traveling to MacKillop programs all over Australia, Robyn delights in her own five children and three beautiful grandchildren.

Professor Pasi Sahlberg is a renowned Finnish educator, researcher, and author, recognised for his contributions to global education reform. With a career spanning teaching, teacher education, policymaking, and academia, he has influenced education systems worldwide. He has served in key roles, including Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank (Washington, DC), Lead Education Specialist at the European Training Foundation (Italy), and Director General at Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture (CIMO). Additionally, he was a Visiting Professor of Practice at Harvard University. Pasi is currently Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Melbourne, where he continues to advocate for evidence-based education policies.

Deb Tsorbaris is a leading advocate for children, young people and families with over 30 years of experience in executive roles in the not for profit and public sectors. As National Children's Commissioner, Ms Tsorbaris promotes and protects children's human rights. An essential part of her job is listening to Australia's children and young people about their needs and experiences, so she can inform decision-makers and hold them accountable for policies and services. Before commencing as National Children’s Commissioner, Ms Tsorbaris was, since 2023, the CEO of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Victoria’s peak body for child and family services. She also holds several key advisory roles, including as a member of the Victorian Children’s Council and the Victorian Women’s Ministerial Correctional Services Committee, and as Co-Chair of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse Advisory Group. Ms Tsorbaris provides policy leadership to governments across Australia and has been instrumental in advancing the rights of vulnerable and marginalised children. In recognition of her outstanding work with children, Ms Tsorbaris was honoured with the prestigious Robin Clark Leadership Award in 2022.

Sarah has had a wide-ranging career from executive roles in tertiary education to private sector consulting in Australia and overseas. For the last 20 years she has held leadership and executive positions in the charity and for-purpose sector. In 2021 Sarah joined the Alannah & Madeline Foundation as the CEO. The Foundation works to make sure children can grow up happy, safe and strong – in both their online and offline worlds, free from violence, and with the support and strategies they need to thrive. Sarah also serves on a range of Boards and committees. Her current community Board roles include Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Advisory Board, and non-executive director of the Sisterhood Foundation, the Board of Old Parliament House, which manages the Museum of Australian Democracy, and Social Ventures Australia.

Paul Fitzgerald is a Registered Psychologist with senior and leadership experience across health, safety, and wellbeing departments within the emergency services sector. He is currently employed at Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and now in his seventh year within the sector, specialising in developing psychological safe leaders & teams, psychological wellbeing, and mental health support for frontline personnel. As a Board-Approved Supervisor & EMDR practitioner, he brings expertise in trauma recovery and resilience-building. His experience includes multiple disaster deployments and delivering mental health training across emergency services. Paul is the 2025 recipient of the Emergency Services Foundation to study the impact of Servant Leadership on culture and wellbeing of first responders. Drawing on evidence-based practice and operational insight, Paul is passionate about enhancing psychological safety & supporting others to thrive in uncertain & high-pressure environments.

Lisa Parsons is a youth mental health and wellbeing advocate and experienced educator with a strong background in school engagement and community support. She currently works as a School Engagement Partner with Kids Helpline @ School, supporting schools to strengthen student wellbeing through evidence-informed, preventative approaches. Lisa brings extensive experience as a primary teacher, alongside qualifications in primary education and TESOL, and is deeply committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive environments for children and young people through education, advocacy, and community collaboration.

Jeremy Kalbstein is driven by one question: how do we help young people think critically and act ethically in an increasingly complex world? As a Learning Designer and the Director of Education for Click Against Hate and Holocaust Education Australia, he designs immersive, story-based learning experiences that support educators and challenge students to engage deeply with complex real-world issues.

Dr Nikki Jamieson is an Author, Suicidologist, Social Worker and Researcher & has undertaken pioneering research on moral injury in Australia following the suicide loss of her son in 2014. Published nationally and internationally on moral injury Nikki also delivers keynotes and workshops and written two books and micro-education app on moral injury for first responders and their families. Nikki has worked in several government departments in suicide prevention including Health and the Departments of Veterans’ Affairs and Department of Defence. Nikki continues to advocate for suicide prevention and engaging lived experience.

Dan Shandler is a Co-Founder and Director of Elephant Ed. Dan is a passionate educator dedicated to shaping safer, more respectful school communities. With over a decade of experience, Dan has presented to tens of thousands of young people, parents and teachers on national and international stages, helping audiences navigate complex conversations around consent, relationships and online safety with clarity and confidence. Elephant Ed partners with more than 500 schools across Australia and now delivers evidence-based, age-appropriate programs to more than 100,000 participants each year. Elephant Ed is endorsed as a Trusted eSafety Provider by the eSafety Commissioner and is included in the Australian Council for Educational Research directory for evidence-based student wellbeing programs.

Madeline is a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), with her PhD exploring the psychosocial determinants of the acts and functions of NSSI convened in 2018. She has been invited to present the results of her research at numerous renowned mental health conferences, including the International Mental Health Conference and the Australasian Conference of Child Trauma. Madeline has also published several peer-reviewed papers in international mental health journals. She has been actively engaged for the past 21 years in an educational, therapeutic, practical and theoretical capacity in the area of NSSI, and psychology more broadly. She is passionate about dispelling the many myths that persist about NSSI.

Timothy Carey Ph.D., is Director, Centre > Health Equity in Regional and Remote Communities, CQUniversity. Previously, he was the Chair Country Health Research and Innovation at Curtin University and before that the inaugural Director of the Institute of Global Health Equity Research and Andrew Weiss Chair of Research in Global Health at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, the Professor of Clinical Psychology in Health Equity at Charles Darwin University, and the Director of Flinders University's Centre for Remote Health in Alice Springs. He is a Fulbright Scholar, a clinician, researcher, trainer, and educator. He has worked as a clinician in Scotland as well as metropolitan and rural Australia including working for the Central Australia Health Service in the adult mental health service, the alcohol and other drugs service, and the pain management service. He has also worked for the Aboriginal Medical Service in Alice Springs in the Social and Emotional Wellbeing clinic.

Vanessa Hamilton is a Sexuality Educator and Mum to three wonderful kids. She is the founder of Talking The Talk Sex and Health Education, working as a highly respected and sought after speaker, writer and educator. Vanessa has spoken to literally tens of thousands of people about sex and sexuality during her 25 years experience as a Sexual Health Nurse and has also spent 17 years educating children and adults. She has immersed herself in helping parents, teachers and health professionals understand human sexuality and specifically how it relates to children. Vanessa understands discussing topics related to sex and human sexuality with kids (young and old) can be confronting for parents. By providing simple explanations, tools and tips, she reduces the fears that many people have about these essential conversations and facilitates discussions that support children as they grow up in this hypersexualised society.

Nick is the National Executive Officer of Relationships Australia, a federation of organisations committed to ensuring the well being of individuals, families and the community. With a dedicated focus on human rights, and a commitment to evidence based practice, Relationships Australia promotes healthy relationships for all Australians, in all their diversity. He graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Asian Studies, Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 2005 and went on to complete a Master of Laws with the ANU in 2012. After over a decade of legal practice in Canberra, I was honoured to have the opportunity to support the settlement journeys of new Australians as CEO of the Settlement Council of Australia. Nick has served as a board member of the Conservation Council ACT and am a member of the Law Council of Australia Immigration Law Committee. I was named ACT Young Lawyer of the Year in 2009 and in 2016 was admitted as a fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia.I have lectured in migration law at the ANU and subsequently ACU, since 2006.

Annette brings more than two decades of experience in educational leadership, both in Australia and internationally. She began her professional journey in the classroom as a teacher before moving into leadership and values-driven education roles with organisations such as the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, UNICEF, the Council of Europe Youth Directorate, and Amnesty International. After many years working in Europe, Annette returned to Australia where she taught in a range of school settings across Sydney, eventually joining the team at Together For Humanity. She holds a Master’s degree in Intercultural Education and a double Bachelor’s degree in Education and Arts (International Studies). Having lived and worked in diverse communities across the globe—and drawing on her own multicultural heritage—Annette brings rich lived experience to her commitment to intercultural understanding and inclusive education. At home, she is kept grounded and inspired by her three children, each of whom reminds her daily of the importance of striving for a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are treated with dignity and respect.

Professor Daryl Higgins’ research focuses on public health approaches to protecting children, and child-safe organisational strategies. A registered psychologist, Professor Higgins has been researching child abuse impacts and prevention, family violence and family functioning for nearly 30 years. As the Director of ACU's Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), and the former Deputy Director (Research) of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Professor Higgins has extensive research experience in the areas of child-safe organisations, child abuse and neglect, child protection, out-of-home care, family law and allegations of child abuse, disability and family care, welfare reform, family and interpersonal violence, jobless families, past adoption and forced family separation practices, and community development approaches to child and family welfare issues.

National Director of Nanyubak: First Nations Practice and Partnerships at MacKillop Family Services, Esmai Manahan is a proud Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara woman. She was raised in a politically active family who remain passionate to this day about making positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including advocating strongly for Treaty and Truth-telling. Esmai is mother, grandmother, sister and aunty to many. Esmai is trauma and family therapy trained and responsible in her role as National Director, for the oversight of cultural safety and cultural change, policy development, self-determination and reconciliation at MacKillop, including strongly advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families, particularly the most vulnerable in the areas of prevention, healing and out of home care. Esmai is a Life Member of the Margaret Tucker Aboriginal Girls Refuge, Co-Chair, Indigenous Advisory Board of Breastscreen Victoria, and continues to be actively involved and committed to community activities.

Associate Professor Tim Moore serves as Deputy Director at the Institute of Child Protection Studies and is widely regarded as an international expert in child and youth research and advocacy for children's rights. With over 20 years of experience, his work has addressed a broad range of critical issues including homelessness, youth justice, child protection, residential out-of-home care, young carers, and strategies for preventing child sexual abuse. Tim has contributed expert advice to numerous major inquiries and Commissions, most notably the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and has played a pivotal role in shaping initiatives at local, national, and international levels aimed at improving outcomes for children, young people, and their families. At the Institute, Tim leads the development and delivery of research and practice that meaningfully includes the voices and perspectives of children and young people. His work focuses on making services and systems more responsive, inclusive, and aligned with the rights and lived experiences of those they serve.

Dr Greig is the Founder of The Stand-Up Project - a voice, agency, and leadership-based anti-bullying program. With a PhD in community empowerment, he is a leading expert in bullying prevention and a frequent speaker and media commentator on student wellbeing, school culture, and preventative education. Drawing on a background in academic research, teaching, and large-scale program delivery, Dr Greig has worked with schools across Australia, Asia, New Zealand, and the United States to embed evidence-based approaches that genuinely shift behaviour.

Jocelyn Bignold AM has been the CEO of McAuley Community Services for Women since 2008, leading innovative support programs for women and children experiencing family violence and homelessness. She has over 25 years of experience in community services, policy development, and advocacy, working extensively with government and non-government organisations to improve policy and service systems. A recognised leader in her field, Jocelyn was an expert witness before the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2020 for her contributions to social welfare and improving the lives of vulnerable women and children.