Amanda’s work is about looking at the context in which an organisation operates and creating a plan to achieve the organisation’s vision. She works within a community context where human rights are upheld, the underprivileged are nourished, asylum seekers are provided with a haven and minorities find a voice. She sees this as a place where creativity thrives and much is made out of very little.

Dr Debra Parkinson has worked in the women’s health sector since 1997, undertaking a diverse range of health promotion, research and evaluation work. Her work during the past decade has focused on environmental justice and gendered experiences of Black Saturday and other disasters.

Jade is a senior gender and social justice advisor with a decade of experience translating leading theories into local and international programs that prevent violence against women. She’s passionate about facilitating transformational social change, focused on health systems strengthening and disaster resilience. You’ll find her in the real world switching between several books at once and internally screaming while hiking.

Rachael is a social worker, committed to gender equality and social justice. As a Gender and Disaster POD member and specialist in the prevention of violence against women, she has developed and facilitated training to a range of emergency management organisations, police, justice and human services agencies. 

Bernadette Fraser has worked with young people, professionals and community members in health, education and community sectors. Her work with Women’s Health Goulburn North East and partners focuses on achieving the rights of all girls and women to optimal sexual and reproductive health.

Kasey is a health promotion practitioner with experience in health programming in Pacific Asia. She considers gender a key determinant of health and is interested in developing her research skills to amplify women’s lived experiences towards meaningful system change. Kasey currently develops, implements and evaluates WHGNE’s strengths-based regional primary prevention initiatives.

Melissa is a health promotion practitioner with experience working in local government, community health and the sport and recreation sector. She is passionate about transforming the settings where our community live, work and play to be safe and inclusive spaces for all women; providing equitable opportunities for them to thrive. Melissa has a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Health Sciences.

Lauren brings to WHGNE more than a decade’s journalism and editing experience with organisations ranging from regional newspapers to international environmental bodies. A values-driven communications professional, her passion for correctly used punctuation is only surpassed by her interest in climate justice movements and her determination to grow the perfect Brussels sprout.

Helen works in the financial sector at North East Health Wangaratta. She holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting Major) a Certificate of Financial Analysis and a Certificate of LEAN Competency – Fundamentals Level 1C.  

Katherine works as a workplace mediator and workplace investigator and has a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology/Behavioural studies), Graduate Diploma Family Dispute Resolution and Graduate Diploma in Psychology. She is currently studying for her honours in psychology.

Emma has extensive experience in the finance industry, working at Lend Lease Corporation Sydney and Melbourne.  She has a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Commercial Law) and a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology – Advanced).

With career experience in government and the not-for-profit sector, Simone is a previous board member with Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre and North East Regional Preschool Association. She currently works in Student Wellbeing at GOTAFE, and holds a Bachelor of Arts – Social Science and a Bachelor of Social Work.

Nadia is the Community Engagement Coordinator at North East Health Wangaratta and has years of experience in public health and fundraising. She has a Certificate of Registration, Enrolled Nurse MERN, Certificate III in Business, and qualifications as a Pharmacy Assistant Grade II.

Sara has extensive experience with the United Nations, International Organisation for Migration and Australian Red Cross, working in the fields of community development, settlement of refugees and support for asylum seekers. She currently leads the settlement network of Greater Shepparton region and is a member of the Regional Advisory Committee of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Honours) and a Diploma in Community Development.

Jacqueline is a registered nurse and has a Graduate Certificate in Nursing (General Practice), Graduate Diploma Population Health, as well as qualifications in Flinders Model Chronic Disease Management and as a Nurse Immuniser.