MEET OUR
TEAM

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The staff at Safe and Equal are critical to supporting the work taking place within the sector.

We bring together the skills, experience and expertise of many people. Our team are passionate about ensuring Safe and Equal stands strong against family violence.

We are currently working to ensure all staff are recognised in this section.

Our Chief Executive Officer:

Tania Farha

EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS

Helen Batho

Executive Director, Operations, Quality and Governance

Jelena Djurdjevic

Executive Director, Sector Development

​​Jelena leads the Sector Development Unit in the development of innovative state-wide workforce capability policy solutions, and oversees the design of Safe and Equal’s workforce strategy.

Louise Simms

Executive Director, Policy, Communications and Engagement

Overseeing the multi-disciplinary PCE Unit, Louise leads Safe and Equal’s approaches to policy analysis, strategic advocacy, government, partner and member engagement, and broader campaigns and awareness-raising.

Marina Carman

Executive Director, Primary Prevention

Marina leads the integration of primary prevention across the organisation, with a focus on workforce development; building and sharing specialist expertise; and contributing to stronger coordination of prevention efforts across organisations and sectors.

SECTOR
DEVELOPMENT

Ashley Gregoratos

Instructional Designer

Drawing on adult learning principles, Ashley maintains, enhances and develops rich and engaging learning programs and designs interactive, social and collaborative online activities.

Brittany McCormack

Statewide Disability Inclusion Advisor

Brittany works with external stakeholders to build capacity across member agencies and other community organisations, with a focus on strengthening service responses to victim survivors with disability.

Elizabeth Yared

Practice Development Advisor – MARAMIS

Elizabeth’s role predominantly supports capacity building for the MARAM and information sharing schemes within specialist family violence victim survivor services.

Ellen McGregor

Manager, Workforce Policy and Practice

Ellen supports the implementation of state-wide practice frameworks and building the capacity of the specialist family violence workforce.

Emma Waheed

Leadership Program Manager

Esther Lee-Scott

Practice Development Advisor- Safety and Support Packages Statewide Coordinator (PSI/FSP)

Esther supports workforce and practice development in the specialist family violence sector as the Statewide Coordinator for Safety and Support Packages; Flexible Support Packages (FSP) and Personal Safety Initiatives (PSI).

Jessica Wilson

Practice Development Advisor

Jessica supports workforce and practice development in the specialist family violence sector.

Kelly Finch

Trainer

As a trainer, Kelly delivers a range of training packages to the specialist family violence sector and non-specialist sectors across Victoria.

Kristy-Lee Loots

Sector Development Advisor

Working within the Sector Development Unit, Kristy works across multiple projects focussed on strengthening and supporting the family violence sector.

Lisa Levis

Manager, Statewide Coordination

Lisa supports the strategic objectives of a team who engage with external stakeholders to embed reforms and build capability across member agencies and other community organisations.

Liz Ratcliffe

Practice Development Advisor

Liz supports the implementation of practice frameworks and capacity building within the specialist family violence sector.

Tara Cartland

Leadership Program Project Officer

Tara works on Safe and Equal’s leadership development program Lead + Adapt, and the Leadership Network.

Tharaka Tennekoon

Manager, Training Operations and Strategy

Tharaka manages the Workforce Development Training team and collectively ensures that the training packages and training delivery are effective and above industry standard.

PRIMARY
PREVENTION

Amelia Ditcham

Prevention Practice and Workforce Development Manager

Amelia manages primary prevention practice and workforce development, overseeing a suite of capability development offerings.

Beth Mooney

Fast Track Project Advisor

Beth supports the delivery of the Fast Track program, an intensive leadership program for specialist family violence response and primary prevention professionals.

Erica Wastell

Prevention Workforce Development Advisor

In her role as Workforce Development and Training Advisor, Erica leads the strategy, design and development of primary prevention training packages and workshops.

Hannah Dwyer

Prevention Program and Campaign Advisor

As Prevention Program and Campaign Advisor, Hannah supports the delivery and implementation of programs and campaigns related to prevention sector development.

Jaspreet Kaur

Prevention Workforce Development Officer

Kylie Henry

Fast Track Program Advisor

Lina Orozco

Prevention Program Officer

As Prevention Program Officer, Lina supports the delivery and implementation of all programs related to prevention sector development.

Lucy Peckham

Prevention Advisor, Connecting Communities

Lucy supports the Primary Prevention Unit across areas such as the development and delivery of training, resource development and stakeholder engagement.

Meghan Cooper

Prevention Project and Partnership Manager

Meghan leads a team of Prevention Advisors working on prevention policy, partnerships, evaluation and sector development, including the Partners in Prevention Network.

POLICY, COMMUNICATIONS
& ENGAGEMENT

Hayley Williamson

Communications Manager

As Communications Manager, Hayley leads the design, development and implementation of Safe and Equal’s communications activity.

Joseph Lumanog

Policy and Advocacy Advisor

Joseph plays a key role in policy development, service development and sector engagement, supporting efforts to drive systemic change within the specialist family violence sector.

Kate Mecham

Policy Manager

Kate is responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of the Policy Team, as well as supporting policy and advocacy activity across the organisation.

Kim Hay

Policy Advisor

Working collaboratively with the policy team, Kim contributes to policy development, consultation and sector collaboration to inform public policy on family violence.

Leisha Ryding

Strategic Projects and Engagement Manager

Melanie Scammell

Media and Communications Advisor

Melanie plans and coordinates Safe and Equal’s media and communications activities, and leads the day-to-day coordination and support for media engagement.

Pauline Huynh

Strategic Projects and Engagement Advisor (Access and Inclusion)

Pauline’s work focuses on capacity building and supporting and enabling accessible, inclusive, and equitable specialist family violence responses and ways of working.

Robyn Stone

Business Partnerships and Engagement Advisor

Robyn coordinates the development and delivery of tailored professional development and capability building products and services.

OPERATIONS, QUALITY
& GOVERNANCE

Julie Lane

Finance Manager

As Finance Manager, Julie is responsible for the oversight, management and consolidation of Safe and Equal’s financial systems, processes and infrastructure.

Meg Barber

Operations Lead – Organisational Development and Governance

Meg is responsible for leading and coordinating the governance activities of the organisation and for supporting the implementation of good governance principles.

Nicola Timberlake

Office Administrator

As Office Administrator, Nicola is responsible for supporting the key day-to-day functions for the Safe and Equal office.

Sara Burgess

Operations Lead – Client and Training Services

Sara supports the implementation and delivery of organisation-wide capacity building activities through the lens of operations, quality, and governance.

Tyra Berenger

Executive and Office Coordinator

Tyra provides operational and administrative support to the organisation and its implementation of capacity building activities.

KEEP
UP TO DATE

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