With more than 30 years’ experience in the community and human services sector, Kerry Staines is a passionate and forward-thinking leader who strives to create positive social impact and address injustice. As the Chief Executive Officer of FNAAFV, Kerry brings extensive expertise in strategic planning, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and business growth. Having delivered successful outcomes and best practices for diverse and complex organisations, such as STEPS Group Australia, Queensland Health, and North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health, Kerry is passionate about addressing systemic challenges that adversely affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families, and their communities, including those impacted by domestic and family violence. “I want to be a part of, and work alongside a network of providers that honour our unique culture and respects the values and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.” Kerry holds an MBA (Leadership) and a Bachelor of Science Psychology, is a graduate of the Australian Institute Company of Directors and holds multiple qualifications in community services and mental health. Born and raised around Brisbane and having lived most of her adult life on Gubbi Gubbi country, Kerry’s cultural heritage extends across the Wakka Wakka and Mandandanji mobs.

Tahlia-Rose is a proud Woppaburra woman with disability, a Traditional Owner of the Keppel Islands, a carer, and a victim-survivor of family violence. Her lived experience continues to shape her advocacy and fuels her commitment to building systems that uphold safety, justice, and healing for our people. Tahlia-Rose has worked across government, community, and research sectors to strengthen policies, programs, and responses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, girls, and mob with disability. Her expertise spans intersectional policy reform, systemic change, organisational governance, and community-led practice. Tahlia-Rose is a former member of the Justice Policy Partnership and the Housing Policy Partnership and has experience across the Closing the Gap and women’s safety policy ecosystems – formerly leading intersection policy efforts at NIAA – include the development of gender as a cross-cutting outcome area under the Commonwealth’s Implementation Plan on CTG, before moving to DSS to help finalise the Disability Sector Strengthening Plan. Tahlia-Rose currently also serves as Chairperson of Sisters in Spirit Aboriginal Corporation, the ACT’s only all-female governed Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, as a Board Director at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), and as a Research Committee Member of the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP – the disability worlds “ANROWS” equivalent). She has undertaken AICD’s Company Directors Course and holds a Bachelor of Criminology from Australian National University (ANU) alongside her tertiary qualifications in government administration, leadership & management, human resources and business.

Melissa Clarke is a Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Wirangu woman and a nationally respected justice and governance leader, with more than 25 years’ experience advancing human rights, safety and systems reform. She is Strategic Director at the First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV). Melissa’s career spans policing, government and the Aboriginal community-controlled sector, where she has led reform at national, state and local levels. She is known for values-led, adaptive leadership grounded in dignity, practical wisdom and action — and for turning complex reform into real-world outcomes. Her senior roles include General Manager at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), General Manager Youth Justice Strategy, Policy and Reporting with the South Australian Department of Human Services, and Director of Aboriginal Services at the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement. She has also contributed to national reform through the Joint Council on Closing the Gap, the Justice Policy Partnership, and as inaugural Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori Advisory Group to the Australasian Youth Justice Administrators. Melissa is a signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and continues to contribute to work that reshapes systems and narratives impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Her work focuses on shifting systems upstream — driving Aboriginal-led solutions for safety, healing and justice, strengthening early intervention, and delivering structural reform to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and families.

Lianne is a former journalist and communications and marketing professional with more than 24 years' experience across Australia and globally in government, professional services (legal), pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, economic development, and tertiary education. Lianne has lived on Gimuy country in Cairns and currently lives on the Gubbi Gubbi and Jinbarra Lands of the Sunshine Coast. Lianne is the inaugural Senior Communications Officer for FNAAFV and brings seven years of combined communications experience in the legal services sector in Queensland and the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Children and Families to her role. Lianne’s media relations experience extends across the areas of child protection, youth and women’s affairs, domestic and family violence, and legal services. Her marketing experience, backed by a Mini MBA in Marketing, covers the traditional and digital disciplines. Lianne’s commitment to the FVPLS sector is fueled by a desire for meaningful work where she can partner with passionate professionals committed to making an impact for those that need it most. “The written word is my passion and using it to elevate the voices of those in need is my life’s work.”

Social justice causes have been the driving force in Priya’s professional journey, which spans a decade in the criminal justice and social policy space, both in the government and non-government sectors. Priya’s commitment to effecting change for those adversely affected by societal injustices is strongly supported by a number of notable education accolades including a Bachelor of Arts (hons) from Monash University, and a Masters in Philosophy from Cambridge University. During her studies, she was named an Economic and Social Research Council Scholar and is currently completing a PhD at Oxford University, studying the intersectionality of domestic violence. Priya lives in Naarm, Melbourne and is the NFVPLS Forum’s dedicated senior policy officer, supporting both the peak body and its members to navigate the political landscape in which they operate. “I am a strong advocate for the social justice causes. While I spent time working in Government, I was very keen to transition to work in the FVPLS sector where creative, innovative, and progressive change happens. I am passionate about preventing violence against women, especially in communities that are adversely affected by such violence.”

Jenn is the Forum’s dedicated and diligent Policy and Grants Officer and brings more than 20 years’ experience working within various Commonwealth and State Government Health portfolios to the role. Her professional experience includes policy development, strategic and business planning, business case development, program and project management, procurement, and contract management, along with funding advocacy. Originally from Ngambri and Ngunnawal country, Canberra, Jenn lives and works on Wardandi country (also known as Australind), in the Southwest of Western Australia, and has worked closely with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in regional and remote communities across Western Australia for many years. Jenn’s wealth of government and community experience is backed by a Master of Project Management and Post Graduate Certificate of Business. Her passion for her chosen field and continued support for the work of the FVPLS sector comes from her desire to make a positive impact for First Nations peoples. “This sector contributes to developing a nation where equity, fairness, respect, safety, and dignity are paramount, and I’m privileged to work with a highly skilled, experienced and passionate team focused on building the sustainability of our sector.”