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Professor Heather Douglas AM
Director
Appointed July 2023.
Professor Heather Douglas AM
Heather teaches and researches at the Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne and has researched legal responses to family violence for over 20 years. Since 2016 she has coordinated the National Domestic and Family Violence Bench Book, an open access online resource for judicial officers responding to cases involving family violence. Heather was previously a commissioner of the Queensland Law Reform Commission and a member of the Child Death Review Board. She has also worked as a criminal lawyer in Victoria, the Northern Territory and in Queensland. Heather is an elected fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List, was appointed as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her service to tertiary law education and the community. Heather joined the Refuge Victoria Board in July 2023.
Emily Ryder

Emily Ryder

Chair

Director since 2019.
Appointed Chair 2021.
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Bridget Thakrar

Bridget Thakrar

Acting Deputy Chair

Appointed Acting Deputy Chair May 2023.
Director since 2021.
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Lino Sinni

Lino Sinni

Treasurer

Director since 2021.
Appointed Treasuer 2022.
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Funda Ozenc

Funda Ozenc

Director

Appointed July 2023.
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Dr Karen Smith OAM

Dr Karen Smith OAM

Secretary

Director since 2020.
Appointed Secretary 2021.
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Janet Jukes OAM

Janet Jukes OAM

Chief Executive Officer

CEO since July 2022.
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