Mary Leaker is CEO of Embolden, South Australia’s peak body for domestic, family and sexual violence services. With an honours degree in social work and social planning, Mary has a longstanding commitment to social justice and gender equality. Her professional experience in the area of gender-based violence includes publishing peer-reviewed research, leading whole-of-government work to improve public sector responses, and a Churchill Fellowship in the UK to gain insights into the operation of coercive control laws and emerging impacts for victim-survivors. Through her role with Embolden, she supports and advocates for the South Australian domestic, family and sexual violence services sector and represents SA on the National Alliance of Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services and the Board of WESNET, the national peak body for domestic and family violence services.

They are the Chief Executive Officer at the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance, the member-led charitable peak body championing the health, safety and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ South Australians. 

Amanda Martin is the Head of Business Services at The Zahra Foundation, supporting women recovering from domestic and family violence through financial counselling, education and employment pathways. Their work focuses on the role of economic empowerment in breaking the cycle of violence, recognising recovery as a form of targeted prevention that strengthens long-term safety for women and their children.

Michele Oliphant is a Senior Educational Consultant with the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA) and the Northern Territory (AISNT). The AISSA and AISNT lead, support, represent and advocate for the independent sectors and member schools in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Michele plays a role in this work through supporting independent schools in SA and NT to embed evidence-based approaches to Consent and Respectful Relationships Education. Her career in education spans over three decades, working extensively in Aboriginal Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Respectful Relationships Education and in supporting school leaders and systems to embed whole-school and systemic approaches to wellbeing.

Before moving from the Northern Territory to Kaurna Country in 2022, she spent six years co-designing a culturally responsive social and emotional wellbeing secondary years curriculum resource with Larrakia and Stolen Generation Elders and young people. She has also worked in primary and early childhood education.

Michele brings to her work knowledge, deep practical experience, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to empowering educators to create safe, inclusive and empowering learning environments.

Anu Krishnan leads the PVAW program at AMES. With over 25 years’ experience working across the
complex intersections between gender, culture, and belonging, Anu brings a nuanced understanding
of gender equity and its profound influence on attitudes towards women and vulnerable groups. As a
leading voice for primary prevention of gender-based violence, Anu has been recognised in the 2019
Victorian Multicultural Awards program for her flagship Prevention of Violence against Women
leadership program.

Emma is an experienced trainer and assessor who designs and delivers workplace training focused on gender-based issues, including sexual harassment, domestic family and sexual violence, and gender equity. Her work supports organisations to create safer, more respectful, and inclusive workplaces, while contributing to broader social change.

Kim Porter is an accomplished leader across child safety, health, education, mental health, and wellbeing. As a Professional Investigator and Capacity Builder, she specialises in sensitive misconduct investigations, trauma‑informed practice, and developing innovative reporting and training systems.

Formerly an Executive Manager of Child Safety, Kim strengthened safeguarding cultures across large organisations by embedding Child Safe Standards, leading strategic initiatives, and overseeing compliance, assurance, and governance frameworks.

With a strong background in health and wellbeing, she has delivered major sector projects, early parenting programs, and health promotion initiatives that improved service delivery and community outcomes. She is a committed advocate for culturally safe, inclusive practice and has developed programs that ensure services are accessible and respectful for diverse communities.

Kim currently serves on the Human Ethics Committee for Central Queensland University. Her earlier career spans education, mental health, and the justice system, where she led wellbeing programs, crisis response teams, and multidisciplinary interventions supporting vulnerable populations.

She brings deep expertise in safeguarding, health, education, and culturally responsive service delivery, and is dedicated to creating safer, more inclusive communities.

Claire Tatyzo (she/her) is the Manager of University & TAFE at Our Watch, leading a specialist team focused on expanding prevention activity across the university and TAFE/VET sectors.

Based in SA, Claire has over 15 years of experience in the design and delivery of primary prevention programs, including respectful relationships education in schools, prevention implementation in tertiary and higher education, and workplace gender equality programs. She has provided gender policy advice to government, corporate and community organisations, including representing Our Watch as a member of the Expert Reference Group for the development of the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2025.

Holley Skene (she/her) is the Chief Executive Officer of SHINE SA, a leading South Australian public health organisation advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. With extensive experience working alongside education systems, SHINE SA delivers evidence-informed, school‑based programs that support respectful relationships, consent and help‑seeking from early years through adolescence. Holley brings a strong equity lens to primary prevention, advocating for universal access to high‑quality, developmentally appropriate education, particularly for children and young people facing systemic barriers. She is committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, thrive and grow free from violence.

Georgina Bentley is a Service Manager with Uniting Communities, with a strong background in counselling and experience across youth-focused programs and homelessness services. She brings a deep understanding of trauma-informed and client-centred practice to her leadership.

Through her work with the GRIT program, Georgina supports young people to break cycles of harm and build the skills and insight needed to live lives free from violence. She is passionate about creating spaces where young people and families can connect, heal, and move forward.

In her current role, Georgina leads service delivery with a focus on strengthening practice, supporting teams, and achieving meaningful outcomes for the communities she serves. She is committed to fostering inclusive, supportive environments and believes in the power of connection and sustained change.

My role is the Chairperson for Community Childrens Centres South Australia, CCCSA, I have had the honour of holding this role for 4 years, the advocacy work that I have the priviledge of doing on behalf of our 100 members across SA, has lead me to this opportunity. My paid role is as the Director of a NfP service in the western suburbs of Adelaide for the past 20 years, with my career spanning 37 years in the not for profit sector of South Australia, working across 2 other services in my career.