Our Board and CEO
Bridget Thakrar
Chair
Appointed Chair February 2024.
Joined Board 2021.
Joined Board 2021.
Bridget is a strategic People and Culture executive and currently Chief Employee Experience Officer at Melba Support Services. She has a wealth of experience in the people field, gained across various industries including technology, utilities, construction, and FMCG. Bridget is passionate about technology and is the co-founder of In The Game, a culture-building platform. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Bridget has a passion for driving high-performance outcomes by way of cultural transformation. She is also a Board member of Muaythai Victoria and co-host of the Female Fight Experience podcast. From a personal perspective, Bridget is a staunch feminist, mum of three and retired Muaythai fighter.
Professor Heather Douglas AM
Secretary
Appointed Secretary November 2023.
Joined Board July 2023.
Read More
Joined Board July 2023.
Shabnam Daliri
Board Observer
Shabnam is a current participant in The Observership Program with Refuge Victoria in 2025. With over 10 years of experience as a social worker, Shabnam has worked across various sectors including family violence, health promotion, gambling and mental health. Before migrating to Australia in 2011, Shabnam voluntarily supported vulnerable women and children in Iran. She is passionate about advocating for sustainable structural change and strongly believes in the principles of social justice. Throughout her career, Shabnam has been a dedicated advocate for women’s and children’s health, emphasising the importance of individual equal rights to wellbeing, self-fulfilment, and self-determination. Her commitment to making a meaningful impact reflects her deep belief in equality for marginalised women and children ensuring they receive equal and fair resources, are respected, empowered, safe and thriving. Shabnam holds a Master of Arts-French Language and Literature from Iran, a Master of Social Work, and a Graduate Diploma of Interpreting from RMIT.
Read More
