Speaker Information, ACOSS Conference 2012

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Speaker Information, ACOSS Conference 2012

Simon Schrapel ACOSS President	Simon is the Chief Executive Officer of UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide in South Australia. He has been a member of the ACOSS Board since 2008 and is an ACOSS Policy Advisor on Community Services. With over 25 years' experience in community services, Simon has had extensive executive level responsibility in both the public and non-government sectors in Australia, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka. Simon's commitment to public policy and sector development is demonstrated through a long history of involvement in peak bodies and advocacy groups. He has been Chair of SACOSS and Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia and a Board member of Families Australia.
Cassandra Goldie ACOSS CEO	Cassandra has an extensive career in the community sector in Australia and internationally working in human rights and law and justice. Cassandra joined ACOSS in July 2010 from the Australian Human Rights Commission where as Director of the Sex and Age Discrimination Unit she played a pivotal role in the inquiry into pay equity and paid parental leave. She has previously been the Director of the Homelessness Legal Rights Project at UNSW, a consultant to UN Habitat, Solicitor in Charge of Client Services with Legal Aid in Western Australia and Executive Officer of the Darwin Community Legal Service. Cassandra has also been President of NTCOSS and Board Member of ACOSS (2001-2002) and was an ACOSS Law and Justice Policy Advisor (2000-2006). She has been the CEO of ACOSS since 2010.
Therese Sands People with Disability Australia	Therese Sands has been a member of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) for 15 years. She has also worked for over 20 years in education, training, policy development and advocacy in the area of disability and human rights. A key area of her work focuses on engaging with United Nations human rights mechanisms to progress the rights of people with disability, and she is currently working with Australian disability organisations to coordinate the development of the NGO CRPD Shadow Report. Therese is an Executive Director, Leadership Team for People with Disability Australia (PWDA), as well as a Life Member.
Gerard Thomas Welfare Rights	Gerard Thomas is the Policy and Media Officer with the Welfare Rights Centre, Sydney and the National Welfare Rights Network. He is also a policy adviser to ACOSS on employment and income support issues. Gerard has previously worked for pensioner organisations for a decade, and has represented the interests of income support recipients to Centrelink Reference Groups and the DEEWR Participation Taskforce, which led to a re-vamp into parental obligations. With others, he contributed to the exposure of impacts of the Social Security penalty system, and its negative impacts upon Indigenous job seekers and their contribution to homelessness.
Jody Broun Co-Chair, National Board, National Congress of Australia's First Peoples	A Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara, Jody Broun has dedicated herself to the service of Australia’s First Peoples in her 25 year career, spending much of that time in senior public service positions. Currently Co-Chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, she has been the Executive Director of Aboriginal Housing and Infrastructure at the Department of Housing and Works (WA), Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment(WA), Executive Director of Policy and Coordination at the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority (WA) and Director General of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Jody is also a well-known and respected artist. She explores the stories of her family and country in her art and was the winner of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award in 1998 and the Canberra Art Award in 2005.
Graham Douglas-Meyer Australian Federation of Disability	Graham was nominated to the ACOSS board by the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations. Graham was appointed to AHEC (Australian Health Ethics Committee) at the end of 2009. He has been an advocate for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) since shortly after being diagnosed HIV positive in 2001. He has also been an an advocate for human rights and equality before the law for GBLTI people generally for some time.
Simon Sheikh GetUp!	Simon studied Economics at the University of New South Wales, which led him to the NSW Treasury department. He represented Australia at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Uganda in 2007 as Australia’s Commonwealth youth representative. He was named the NSW Young Professional of the Year in the same year. In 2008 he left Treasury and went on to assume the role of National Director of GetUp!. Since joining GetUp! we’ve campaigned on rising carbon pollution and the necessary investments in renewable energy, we’ve fought for over 98,000 people’s right to vote, a more humane refugee policy, we’ve campaigned on mental health funding, internet censorship, antiterrorism legislation, paid parental leave & the Murray Darling water crisis just to name a few.
The Hon. Wayne Swan, MP Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister	Wayne Swan has been Federal Treasurer since December 2007 and Deputy Prime Minister since June 2010. His focus is on strong and secure economic growth, job creation, and getting a fairer go for low and middle income earners in the tax and retirement income systems. He helped formulate Australia’s successful response to the global financial crisis, which kept workers in jobs and the economy out of a long and damaging recession. Mr Swan is committed to investing the dividends of the mining boom where they can make the greatest contribution to jobs, infrastructure, national savings and sustainable economic growth. During his time as Treasurer, Australia has created hundreds of thousands of new jobs, delivered a historic boost to the aged pension, and put in place a plan to increase the superannuation savings of the nation’s 8.4 million workers. Mr Swan will speak about the response to his essay on inequality published in The Monthly, and how a strong economy and a strong community go hand in hand. He will discuss the importance of policies to ensure all Australians share in the opportunities of the Asian Century, not just a fortunate few.
Peter Whiteford Professor and Acting Director of the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW	Professor Peter Whiteford has worked at the SPRC since 2008 and is currently Acting Director. He previously worked as a Principal Administrator in the Social Policy Division of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He has also worked at the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York in the UK, as well as a Consultant to the Social Security Review. He worked previously at the SPRC in 1994 and between 1986 and 1990, as well as for various periods in the then Department of Social Security. In July 2008, he was appointed to the Reference Group for the Harmer Review of the Australian pension system. He was an invited keynote speaker at the Melbourne Institute-Australia's Future Tax and Transfer Policy Conference held in June 2009 as part of the Henry Review of Australia's Future Tax System, and he participated in the Tax Forum held in Canberra in October 2011.
Beth Goldblatt Visiting Fellow, Australian Human Rights Centre, University of NSW	Beth Goldblatt is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Human Rights Centre where she is director of the Gender, Rights and Development Project. She is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow of the School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Beth is a lawyer who has worked on women's issues and human rights for many years using research, advocacy and litigation. She has focused on various aspects of South Africa's social security system. Beth recently edited a book on Women's Social and Economic Rights and is organising an international initiative on Women's Right to Social Security with Prof Lucie Lamarche of the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Gavin Dufty Manager of Policy and Research, St Vincent de Paul Society	Gavin is currently employed as the manager of policy and research at St Vincent de Paul Society, Victoria. Gavin has worked in the community welfare sector for over 18 years. During this time he has produced a number of reports focusing on the cost of living and its impact on various households with a particular focus on energy and water pricing. He is also a member of a number of Government and industry working groups and consultative forums. In 2011 he was appointed by the Premier of Tasmania to an expert committee on the cost of living.
Dr Greg Ogle, Senior Policy and Research Analyst, SACOSS	Greg Ogle is responsible for the research and writing of SACOSS’ quarterly Cost of Living Updates, which focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged South Australians. He has a PhD in political economy from The University of Adelaide and has worked in campaign and advocacy roles in community organisations for nearly 20 years.
The Hon. Mark Butler Minister for Social Inclusion, Mental Health and Ageing	Mark Butler was elected to Federal Parliament in 2007 representing the electorate of Port Adelaide. In 2009 Mark was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health and in September 2010, he was appointed the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing. In December 2011, Mark was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Mental Health, Ageing and Social Inclusion. Before entering Parliament, Mark worked for 15 years in the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (now United Voice) - including 11 years as State Secretary – representing thousands of workers within aged care, and many other sectors. Mark was a Member of the South Australian Social Inclusion Board during its major review of the South Australian mental health system and served on a number of other Boards in areas including tourism, gambling and vocational training. In 1997, Mark was elected as the youngest ever President of the ALP in South Australia, and has been a Member of the ALP National Executive and National Executive Committee since 2000. He holds a First Class Honours Law degree, an Arts degree and a Masters degree in International Relations and was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2002 for services to trade unionism. Mark lives in Woodville Park with his wife and two children, and is a keen supporter of AFL team Port Power.
Lauren Jew Department of Education & Child Development SA	Lauren is a returning Member of the Australian Youth Federation (AYF) Steering Committee. She is in her final year of studying a Bachelor of Arts (Aboriginal Studies) / Bachelor of Social Work through the University of South Australia.Lauren has extensive experience working with vulnerable people. She has worked in remote Aboriginal communities, with young people incarcerated and children and young people who have been removed from their families and placed into alternative care.Lauren believes that the social footprint we all create paves the way for our future and that a more inclusive Australia is not a matter of chance but a matter of choice.
Don Henry Australian Conservation Foundation	Don Henry is the CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation. In the ‘80s Don campaigned for the protection of Moreton Island, Great Barrier Reef islands, Cape York and the rainforests of north Queensland. He was the director of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and the editor of Wildlife Australia before becoming the Australian director of the World Wide Fund for Nature. Don moved to Washington DC with WWF, working as director of the South Pacific Program (1992-95), the Asia-Pacific Program (1995-96) and the Global Forest Program (1996-98). In 1998 Don returned to Australia to take up the position of Executive Director (now CEO) of ACF, where he has been engaged in tackling some of the nation’s biggest environmental problems, like stopping destructive land clearing in Queensland, urging governments to buy back water licences from willing sellers and return the water to Murray-Darling rivers, securing National Heritage recognition for the Kimberley, addressing the challenges of climate change, and negotiating for millions of hectares of land to be returned to Traditional Owners on Cape York to be protected as jointly managed national parks and conservation areas.
Tim Costello World Vision Australia	Tim Costello is one of Australia’s most sought after voices on issues of social justice, leadership and ethics. Since 2004 Tim has been CEO of World Vision, Australia’s largest international development agency. Trained in economics, law, education and theology, Tim has practised law, served as a Baptist minister, and has been active in church and community leadership, local government and national affairs.
Jasmine Bedford Fitzroy Crossing	Jasmine Bedford is a young single mother of 2, a successful young Indigenous Bunuba woman from the remote community of Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. She currently works as an Indigenous Engagement Officer for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs working towards Closing the Gap strategy and other areas under the National Partnership Agreement of Remote Service Delivery. Jasmine aims to help the engagement between her community and the governments (State/Federal) by engaging with her community, listening to the community and taking action upon their request with the Government to allow her community to have a voice, to be strong and make positive changes to their lives particularly around youth, early childhood and education. She believes engaging and working together is the key to success – building strong working relationships with the youth towards a stronger future for us all. Jasmine was a member of the Australian Youth Forum Steering Committee in 2011.
Maia Giordano Australian Youth Affairs Coalition	Maia Giordano is the Deputy Director (Young People) at The Australian Youth Affairs Coalition - the national voice representing young people and the youth sector. Her role includes developing youth participation within AYAC, and ensuring young people and youth-led organisations have a voice in AYAC’s work and policy development. Maia has a longstanding commitment to youth participation through her work as well as Honours research on Child–Friendly Cities Policy Implementation and involvement in the Inspire Foundation’s first ActNow Youth Advisory Board. She has experience working in the not-for-profit, local and state government sectors. She was previously the Vice President on the Board of Directors of Invisible Children Australia and worked with The Centre for Volunteering - the NSW peak body for volunteering.
The Hon. Kate Ellis Minister for Employment Participation and Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care	In 2004 Kate Ellis became the youngest woman ever elected to the Australian House of Representatives, when she became the Member for Adelaide. When the Labor Government was elected in 2007, Kate was elevated to the Labor Government ‘s frontbench as the Minister for Youth and Sport. Since then Kate has held various portfolios and is now the Minister for Employment Participation and the Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care
Eva Cox University of Technology Sydney	Eva Cox is a well known stirrer, who has a strong commitment to rating policies for fairness and social well being above economic gains and changing political priorities. Her long term well known feminist activities are now linked with activism on Indigenous issues to create core parts of the good society. She is starting up a More Civil Society network to create new policies and ideas for change. See her webpage www.evacox.com.au for how to join in, including the Women’s Equity Think Tank (WETTANK) and Dinner Party networks or email her at eva.cox@uts.edu.au
Annabel Crabb ABC Online	One of Australia’s most popular political commentators, Annabel Crabb is the ABC’s chief online political writer. She has been a journalist for more than 12 years, covering national politics for 10. Before she became a journalist, Annabel completed arts and law degrees at the University of Adelaide, but decamped when a legal career threatened to become a reality. Annabel has worked extensively in newspapers, radio and television as a political commentator, and has been a regular on the ABC’s Insiders program since its inception in 2001. She is interested in new platforms for political reporting, and has established a regular live “Twittercast” of parliamentary question time at the Twitter site @CrabbTwitsard, as well as regular commentary at @annabelcrabb.
Rebecca Huntley Ipsos Mackay Report	Dr Rebecca Huntley is a researcher and author with a background in publishing, academia and politics. She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies.Rebecca is the Director of The Ipsos Mackay Report, now in its 33rd year. She is the author of two books, The World According to Y: Inside the New Adult Generation and Eating Between the Lines: food and equality in Australia. Rebecca is a regular contributor to essay collections, magazines, newspapers and online publications and is a feature writer for Australian Vogue. She is a sought after commentator on social trends on radio, in print and on television. She is on the board of Campaign Action and the Dusseldorp Skills Forum and on the advisory committee for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UNSW.
Peter Saunders Research Professor in Social Policy, Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW	Peter Saunders was the Director of the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) from February 1987 until July 2007, and now holds a Research Chair in Social Policy within the Centre. His research interests include poverty and income distribution, household needs and living standards, social security reform, comparative social policy and ageing and social protection in China. His recent books include Down and Out: Poverty and Exclusion in Australia (Policy Press, 2011), The Poverty Wars: Reconnecting Research with Reality and (with James Walter) Ideas and Influence: Social Science and Public Policy in Australia (both UNSW Press, 2005). He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia in 1995, and is currently an Australian Professorial Fellow working on the concepts and measurement of poverty and inequality, and on deprivation and social exclusion in Australia. He was elected President of the Foundation for international Studies on Social Security (FISS) and as the inaugural President of the Australian Social Policy Association (ASPA).
Paul Cain National Council on Intellectual Disability	The National Council on Intellectual Disability has employed Paul for 19 years in various roles and projects. The opportunity for all people with intellectual disability to participate in the open labour market is a priority of his work. His focus is on how Australia can shift from its habit of segregating adults with intellectual disability in nonwork and sheltered employment programs, which maintain lifetime dependence on the pension, to providing support for this group to enjoy the dignity of paid work in the open labour market.
Dr Melissa Wong Research Associate, Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW	Melissa Wong is a Research Associate at the Social Policy Research Centre. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of New South Wales. Melissa’s research interests include the measurement of poverty and income inequality, child wellbeing and social policy in developing economies. She is also interested in trade-poverty linkages, interactions between growth and international trade and the effects of trade on human capital accumulation and economic policies. Melissa has extensive experience in the statistical analysis of complex survey micro-data. She is currently involved in a number of Australian Research Council funded projects including; An Integrated Framework for Developing Credible Indicators of Deprivation and other Dimensions of Inequality, Comparing the Living Standards of Children and Older People Within and Between Nations and Social Disadvantage and Economic Recession: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Deprivation.
Karyn Walsh ACOSS Board Member & Coordinator, Micah Projects	Karyn Walsh is the President of QCOSS. Karyn has more than thirty years experience in the community sector in Queensland working in communities as diverse as Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Mt Isa and Brisbane. Karyn has significant expertise in homelessness, disability, young parents, prison ministry, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and abuse of people in church and state care. Her primary qualification is as a Registered Nurse and has lived and worked in Brisbane for 27 years and has a Diploma in Community Management. Karyn is currently the Coordinator of Micah Projects in South Brisbane.
Emma Davidson Project Coordinator, Equality Rights Alliance	Emma Davidson is a project coordinator at Equality Rights Alliance, Australia's largest network of organisations advocating women's equality, women's leadership, and recognition of women's diversity. Equality Rights Alliance is managed by YWCA Australia
Richard Weston CEO, Healing Foundation	Richard is a descendant of the Meriam people of the Torres Strait. He has lived and worked for 27 years in urban, regional and remote settings where he gained a unique insight into grass roots Indigenous issues. He has spent 8 of the last 9 years leading the successful Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation in Far West NSW. He more recently spent 12 months with the Indigenous Health Service in Brisbane. His current role is as CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation based in Canberra.
Terese Edwards CEO, National Council for Single Mothers and their Children	Terese Edwards is the CEO of the National Council for Single Mothers and their Children. She is a professional within the community services sector with over twenty years experience managing a diverse range of services. Terese has worked in social policy at state and national levels, and holds certificates in governance from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Terese has been the Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Single Mothers & Their Children (NCSMC), the peak national organisation responding to and representing the needs of single mothers and their children in Australia, since April 2009. Terese has also been the General Manager of Barkuma Incorporated, which provides an innovative community support service for adults and parents with intellectual and other disabilities in South Australia, since 1996. Terese has served on the Policy Council of the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS), the peak council of the community services and welfare sector in SA, from 1996 to 2007. Terese has been on the ACOSS board since 2004, the Executive Board from 2006 to 2007 and Deputy President since 2008.
Anne Hollonds CEO, The Benevolent Society	Anne Hollonds is the CEO of Australia’s first charity, The Benevolent Society. Anne has spent many years working at Chief Executive level in the non-profit sector. She is well known as the former CEO of Relationships Australia, NSW branch, a role she held for 13 years, and is also Chairman of the Board of Family Relationship Services Australia, the national industry body representing 150 community-based organisations across Australia. Anne has qualifications in psychology, social work, and mediation, as well as an MBA, and extensive experience in child and family services, child protection, out-of-home care, community mental health, and tertiary education.
Micaela Cronin Mackillop Family Services	Micaela Cronin is the CEO of MacKillop Family Services - one of the largest providers of specialist services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families in Victoria, and more recently with branches in NSW. Micaela has worked in the community sector for over 20 years and has extensive experience in the delivery and management of a broad range of community services. She has a passionate commitment to social justice issues and wants to see children and young people’s voices heard in strong, inclusive communities. Micaela enjoys working in partnership with other community sector organisations, and is President of the Victorian Council of Social Services, a member of the ACOSS and Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare boards, and a council member of Catholic Social Services Victoria.
George Megalogenis The Australian	George Megalogenis is a senior journalist and political commentator with The Australian, to which he also contributes the blog Meganomics, and is a regular guest on ABC TV’s The Insiders. He spent over a decade in the Canberra press gallery, and is the author of Faultlines, The Longest Decade and Quarterly Essay 40: Trivial Pursuit – Leadership and the End of the Reform Era. The Australian Moment is his latest book.
Samantha Page Executive Director, Family Relationship Services Australia	Samantha (Sam) Page is the Executive Director of Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA). FRSA is a national network of community organisations that deliver relationship and support services to families, children and young people. Established in 2007, FRSA supports the delivery of quality services and engage in the development of public policy. FRSA has 145 member organisations and receives funding for sector support from the Australian Government. Sam is a member of the Institute of Company Directors and has served on the boards of peak bodies and community service providers for more than a decade. At the national level she recently joined the Board of the National Roundtable of Nonprofit Organisations. At the local level she is President of Parentline ACT and a member of the Canberra Fathers and Children Service (CanFACS) management committee.
David Locke ACNC Implementation Taskforce	David Locke is Chief Adviser to the Taskforce of the ACNC and is working on all aspects of the design and build of the new agency. David is seconded to the Taskforce from the Charity Commission of England and Wales where he is the Executive Director of Charity Services, with responsibility for the provision and overall management of the Commission’s one-to-one services to charities, including the registration of charities, the education and advice and all the Commission’s legal permissions. David joined the Commission in 2002 as a lawyer before moving to Head of Charity Services in 2005 and his current post in September 2007. David is a qualified solicitor and prior to working at the Commission, he spent over ten years working in legal community centres managing the delivery of advice services to the public.
James Valentine ABC Radio	James has been presenting Afternoons on 702 since the ‘90s and is also a musician with his own jazz quartet. He plays regularly around Sydney and at music festivals around the country and, in 2009, released the album Debut. James is also the narrator of Lifestyle Channel’s Come Dine With Me Australia as well as the writer of a regular, humourous column for The Australian newspaper. A familiar face on Australian television, James was the movie reviewer for many years on Showtime, a reporter and commentator on shows such as Sunrise, It Takes Two, Midday, Good Morning Australia and TVTV.
Alison Peters NCOSS	Alison Peters is the Director of the Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) a position she has held since November 2007. Previously, Alison has held many positions within the trade union movement including Deputy Assistant Secretary of Unions NSW, Secretary of the Australian Services Union (NSW & ACT Services Branch), National Chairperson of the ASU and Vice President of the Labor Council of NSW (now Unions NSW). Alison is currently a board member of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and has been a director of Sydney Water and the NSW Working Women’s Centre. She is a member of many Government and other advisory committees and reference groups. Alison holds degrees in Commerce (Industrial Relations) and Law from the University of NSW. Alison is currently a board member of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and has been a director of Sydney Water and the NSW Working Women’s Centre. She is a member of many Government and other advisory committees and reference groups.
The Hon. Brendan O’Connor Minister for Housing and Homelessness	Brendan O’Connor was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2001. Following the election of the Rudd Labor Government, Brendan was appointed as Minister for Employment Participation. As Minister he fundamentally reformed employment services replacing Job Network with Job Services Australia, with a greater emphasis on providing tailored services to the long term unemployed. On June 6 2009, Brendan was appointed as Minister for Home Affairs. Following the election of the Gillard Labor Government he was appointed as the Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Justice and Minister for Freedom of Information and Privacy. In December 2011, he was appointed Minister for Human Services and Minister Assisting for School Education. In March 2012, he was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Small Business. Brendan was appointed to four Cabinet committees including Expenditure Review Committee. Prior to entering Parliament, the Minister was Assistant National Secretary of Australian Services Union from 1993-2001. Brendan holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Law degree (LLB) from Monash University, and a Diploma, Harvard TU Program, Harvard university.
Greg Cash Director of Affordable Housing Policy, Department of Housing WA	Greg has worked in senior roles in the field of housing for 17 years. In his current position he leads the setting and evaluation of strategic policy for the Department’s State-wide activities ranging from homelessness to home ownership. He is playing a key leadership role in tackling the State’s affordable housing challenge following the launch of the State Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2010-2020, Opening Doors to Affordable Housing - an innovative reform agenda aiming to deliver 20,000 additional homes by 2020. He is a member of the Western Australian Council on Homelessness and represents the Department as a company director on a number of land development joint venture companies. Greg is a Murdoch University graduate with a double degree in Politics and International Studies and Public Policy and Management. He is continuing to lead new approaches to tackling the State’s affordable housing challenge.
Tessa Boyd-Caine Deputy CEO, ACOSS	Tessa is a criminologist by training and worked in the areas of criminology, criminal justice, mental health and human rights before joining ACOSS is 2009. Tessa's previous work has included studying the impact of the human rights internationally; developing policies on corporate social responsibility; and policy and management in forensic mental health. She coordinated the human rights report and advocacy to the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda (2007). She has a PhD from the London School of Economics, examining the public protection agenda in the release of mentally disordered offenders. Her book on this subject, ‘Protecting the public: detention and release of mentally disordered offenders' was published by Routledge in 2010. Tessa is an Adjunct Lecturer with the Faculty of Law, University of Sydney.
Michael Pegg Manager, Community Sector Industrial Relations, Jobs Australia	Michael is the manager of the Community Sector Industrial Relations team at Jobs Australia, providing industrial advice and representation for nonprofit community sector employers across Australia. He commenced as an IR Adviser with Jobs Australia in 2003 after several years as a union official. Recently, Michael acted as an advocate for Jobs Australia in both the Queensland and national equal pay cases.In addition to extensive industrial experience in award proceedings, bargaining, and settling disputes, Michael has a particular interest in organisational values and HR management practices in the nonprofit community sector.
Diana O’Halloran University of Western Sydney	Di has been working towards a strong, integrated and equitable primary health care system, with quality general practice at its centre, for more than two decades. She currently chairs the RACGP Presidential Task Force on Health Reform, and WentWest: a division of general practice and regional training provider, which is now the Western Sydney Medicare Local. Di is also a member of the Western Sydney Local Health Network Board (ie the Local Health District Board in NSW). From 2004 to end 2011, Di also chaired the NSW General Practice Advisory Council which provided advice to, and worked with, the NSW Department of Health and the Ministry. She continues to work with multiple organizations and advisory bodies at local, regional and state levels to influence the evolution of government policy, bottom up system design and new integrated patient care and health service models. She is deeply involved in the evolution of HealthOne across both NSW and western Sydney, and is a Conjoint Professor in the Department of General Practice, University of Western Sydney.
Carol Bennet Consumers Health Forum	Carol Bennett is the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) – the peak organisation for health consumers in Australia. Ms Bennett leads CHF’s work to ensure a strong consumer voice and consumer participation in health reform through advocacy, policy development and consumer research. Ms Bennett has worked at the executive level in health organisations for more than 15 years, including as CEO of peak national and state health bodies, and major consultancy roles with organisations including beyondblue.
Sue Grigg Sacred Heart Mission	Sue has been working in homelessness for over 15 years, primarily in the community sector in Melbourne. Sue has extensive experience in direct service provision, program management, working for government and consulting. Sue has a particular interest in people who are long term homeless.
Chris Dodds ACOSS Representative & Chairperson, Telstra’s Low Income Measures Assessment Committee	Chris has been involved in the Community Service Industry for over 35 years in both a paid and volunteer capacity. This has included work as a childcare worker in a Women’s Refuge, Coordinator at a Neighbourhood Centre and teaching at both TAFE and University. At present he is employed as Senior Policy Officer for the Energy and Water Ombudsman of NSW. He served on the Board of NCOSS for 14 years including four year (2002-6) as President. He also served on the Board of ACOSS for 8 years including 5 years on the Executive Committee. At present Chris represents ACOSS on and is also Chairperson of Telstra’s Low Income Measures Assessment Committee (LIMAC). He is also a consumer representative on the Council of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO).
Judith Yates School of Economics, University of Sydney	Judy Yates is currently an Honorary Associate in the School of Economics at the University of Sydney after a long career in academia. Her research has been in the fields of housing economics, finance and policy. She is currently a member of the government's National Housing Supply Council.
Adrian Pisarski Chair, National Shelter	Adrian Pisarski has a 30 year history in the community sector including roles with housing and youth peak bodies in Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, Queensland and nationally. He has been the Executive Officer of Queensland Shelter since 2002 and the Chairperson of National Shelter since 2004. Adrian is a member of the Affordable Housing Summit Group and has served as Deputy President of ACOSS.
Senator Kim Carr Minister for Human Services	Senator Kim Carr was born in Tumut, New South Wales, in 1955. He was educated at New South Wales and Victorian state schools and at the University of Melbourne, where he completed a B.A. (Hons), M.A. and Dip. Ed. Before entering parliament he worked as a school teacher and policy adviser. Senator Carr was elected to the Senate in 1993 and to Labor’s front bench in 1996, where he worked in education, schools and training. He also served as the shadow minister for science and research, which was soon joined by industry and innovation. Following Labor’s election victory in 2007, he was sworn in as Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. From December 2011 to March 2012, he served as Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Defence Materiel. On 5 March 2012, Senator Carr was sworn in as Minister for Human Services. He brings to the portfolio a longstanding interest in economic and social change, education, innovation and industry policy. Senator Carr is married, has four children, and enjoys reading history and fiction, watching the Western Bulldogs (AFL) and trout fishing.
Sarah Toohey Campaigns Manager, Australians for Affordable Housing	Sarah is the Campaign Manager for Australians for Affordable Housing, a coalition of community and housing organisations calling on the Australian Government to take action to improving housing affordability. Prior to Australians for Affordable Housing Sarah worked at the Victorian Council of Social Service doing policy research and running campaigns on issues affecting low income and disadvantaged Victorians. She sat on the Ministerial Customer Consultative Working Group on Smart Meters and in partnership with VCOSS policy analyst Jess Fritze she established the "Decent not Dodgy" campaign for minimum rental housing standards. She has also worked in the community sector in homelessness service delivery, transitional housing tenancy and property management.
Giancarlo de Vera Left Right Think Tank	Giancarlo has been involved in the youth-led sector for over a decade because he believes young people play a very important and active role In shaping the future. He has worked in a paid and volunteer capacity for the not-for-profit, government, and corporate sectors primarily across the legal and international development industries in India, Philippines, Australia and the USA. Giancarlo’s most recent work experience has also seen him be part of a legal team that attempted to develop a legal basis to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court, jointly with the UN Security Council and UN Office of Legal Affairs. Giancarlo was also the founding member of Breaking Down Boundaries Inc, a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to reaffirm the law as a powerful tool for social justice. Outside of Left Right Think-Tank, Giancarlo works for Welcome to Australia and is currently in the concept development stage of a new education start-up company with the Co-Founder of Groupon Singapore.
Adam Bandt MP Federal Member for Melbourne	Adam Bandt is a Greens MP and the Federal Member for Melbourne. He was elected in 2010 when he made history by becoming the first Greens MP elected to the House of Representatives at a general election. For many years he worked at a leading national labor firm, in the industrial and public interest unit. He also worked as a barrister specialising in the field of industrial, employment and public interest law. Adam represented many unions and low paid workers and worked on cases involving freedom of speech and implementation of international covenants into Australian law. Adam received undergraduate Law/Arts Honours degrees at Murdoch University, where he won the Sir Ronald Wilson Prize for Academic Achievement and he completed a PhD at Monash University in 2008. His thesis looked at the recent trend of governments suspending basic human rights in areas such as migration, workplace relations and criminal law. Adam lives in Flemington with his partner Claudia and their two dogs.
David Speers Sky News	Sky News Political Editor David Speers is one of the nation’s most respected political journalists. He hosts “PM Agenda” each day on Sky News and “The Nation” each week, where he regularly interviews political and business leaders. David was chosen by both sides of politics to chair the Leaders’ Debates at the last two elections. He has interviewed many international leaders including US President George W. Bush at the White House and has reported from around the world including Afghanistan, India, China and Indonesia.
Chris Connolly University of New South Wales	Chris Connolly is the lead researcher and author of the report - Measuring Financial Exclusion in Australia. Chris is an independent researcher with an extensive background in consumer protection law and policy. Chris is a Visiting Fellow in the Law Faculty at UNSW and has been associated with the Faculty in various research and teaching roles for over 15 years. Chris is a former Chair of the Consumers’ Federation of Australia. He is currently the independent chair of the ACCC’s Consumer Consultative Committee and sits on the Board of several major charities and NGOs. Through his consulting company, Galexia Consulting, Chris has also worked extensively in the Asia-Pacific region, updating laws in countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos as part of a significant 5 year AusAID project.
Robert Morsillo Swinbourne University	Robert works as a P/T Research Fellow at the Swinburne Institute of Social Research, focussing on the Broadband Services 2015 project. He has a background in electrical engineering, computer science, theology, community development, public policy, communications and consumer affairs. He is particularly interested in the role of technology in social innovation and sense of connectedness, and in user innovation within the communications industry.
Chris Varney Child and Youth Participation Advisor, World Vision	24-year-old Chris Varney is a passionate advocate for youth participation and sustainable development. In 2009 he was appointed Australia’s Youth Representative to the United Nations. In this role, he travelled Australia’s States and Territories collecting over 12,000 stories from children and young people. Chris then shared these stories in the 64th UN General Assembly in New York. Upon returning to Australia, Chris implemented a ‘Report Back’ tour for young Australians to honour the trust they had placed in him. Chris has extensively promoted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and Millennium Development Goals. This has seen him work with decision-makers at all levels to champion the rights of children and young people. In October, 2011 Chris reported to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on Australia’s gaps under the CRC. As part of his 10 years of experience in the Australian and international youth sectors, Chris has spent 8 years with World Vision. Chris and his peers were instrumental in developing World Vision’s approach to youth volunteering and campaigning. He currently works part-time at World Vision Australia as its Child and Youth Participation Advisor whilst completing a Bachelor of Arts/ Law at Monash University. In 2011 he received the Monash Student Alumni Award.
Sussan Ley MP Shadow Minister for Employment Participation	Sussan Ley's career path has been wonderfully varied, with odd jobs on the way to a pilot's license - roles as an air traffic controller, stock-mustering pilot and occasionally shearer's cook followed! While raising three children on a family farm, ten years of study led to a senior position at the Australian Taxation Office before she successfully sought Liberal Party pre-selection for Farrer (N