This year we have an extraordinary line-up of inspirational speakers joining us at our 14th Annual Forum.

These speakers will be discussing the theme: The pathway to homelessness for women in Queensland – a story of coercive control, violence and systemic disadvantage.

We look forward to hearing from these incredible, passionate and knowledgeable speakers. Secure your ticket and find the full program here.

Cindy Barden
Creator, Lil Bug Love
Cindy watched a bit of her daughter’s innocence die as they fled their home with a domestic violence order, half a tank of fuel and $12 in her wallet. She had nothing to keep her anxious daughter occupied while she was in police stations making statements. From this experience, Cindy created Lil Bug Love kits, which she believes need to be made available in every police station in Australia. Lil Bug Love kits provide a distraction from the horrendous details, provide simple tools to help kids overcome trauma and feel more empowered.

Sheryl Batchelor
Founder, Yiliyapina Indigenous Corporation
Sheryl is a proud Kunja woman with ancestral connections to Cunnamulla and Charleville. In 2019, she established Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation, which is a not-for-profit registered charity to address the decrease in brain health in vulnerable children, youth, adults, and seniors.

Kerrin Bradfield (she/they)
Clinical Sexologist and Education and Engagement Coordinator, Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence
Kerrin has delivered sexuality education to tens of thousands of people, from students to United Nations staff. They are the current National Chairperson of the Society of Australian Sexologists, are on the Executive Committee for the Australian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance and are a member of the World Association of Sexual Health’s Sexual Ethics Committee.

Melissa Bull
Professor, QUT School of Justice and Director, QUT Centre for Justice
Melissa is an interdisciplinary researcher with a particular focus on community development and crime prevention, particularly in relation to diverse communities. Her recent work has focused on the prevention of violence against women and homelessness for older women, the experiences of women in long-term immigration detention, and the inclusiveness of illicit drug intervention programs.

Christine Castley
CEO, Multicultural Australia
Christine has a strong track record in delivering significant reform and innovation projects, including for adult and youth justice, disaster management response and recovery and public sector ethics and integrity reform. In 2014-2015, she led the Secretariat for the Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence, chaired by the Honourable Quentin Bryce, which delivered the landmark ‘Not Now, Not Ever’ Report.

Sue and Lloyd Clarke
Founders of Small Steps 4 Hannah
After the murder of their daughter Hannah and their three grandchildren, Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, Sue and Lloyd Clarke vowed to put a stop to domestic and family violence. Through their foundation, Small Steps 4 Hannah, Sue and Lloyd are committed to ensuring that other families don’t have to experience their tragedy. Over the last few years Sue and Lloyd have joined others to advocate for change, to protect women and provide options for women to leave violent situations safely.

Brian Codd
Assistant Commissioner, Queensland Police Service
Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd leads the Queensland Police Service (QPS) Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Command, responsible for building and enhancing the strategic capability of the QPS in its response to domestic and family violence in the community.

Carolyn Curry
Integration Manager, YFS Ltd
Carolyn leads a team of housing specialists embedded in YFS’ family support teams, and also manages a small team supporting people with complex mental health and housing issues. Previously Carolyn oversaw YFS’ Thriving Families project, which demonstrated the value of a holistic early intervention approach for young families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Karen Dare
CEO, Communify
Karen has a social sciences background and over 30 years of experience working within the community sector. Always with a community development focus, Karen works alongside the Communify Management team to develop services and programs that will support people living in Brisbane’s inner city communities. She has a strong interest in supporting and developing responsive services within the housing, mental health, family support, emergency relief and refugee support areas.

The Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP
Minister for Communities and Housing and Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts & Member for Algester
Leeanne Enoch became the first Aboriginal woman ever elected to the Queensland Parliament after winning the seat of Algester at the 2015 state election. She has a strong sense of social justice, which is supported by her remarkable ability to listen to the needs of others and turn issues into positive actions. Prior to entering politics, Leeanne worked with the Australian Red Cross, guiding humanitarian policy and programs to improve the lives of Australia’s most vulnerable.

Carmel Haugh
Community Lead, Brisbane Zero
Carmel’s creative strategies empower collaboration on ideas that make everyday life in cities better for everyone. Her leadership, energy and expertise in bringing multiple partners together drive projects and campaigns spanning arts, social justice and city planning. Carmel leads Brisbane Zero, a place-based, cross-sectoral strategy to end homelessness and is the Co-Director of Chrysalis Projects, a creative placemaking consultancy working with artists, community and city makers alike.

Rebecca Oelkers
CEO, BHC
Rebecca Oelkers is the Chief Executive Officer of BHC, one of the largest Community Housing Providers in Queensland, with over 1,700 homes developed and under management. Rebecca’s experience in the affordable housing sector spans over 19 years, across a variety of affordable housing projects. Rebecca is committed to growing the supply of safe, secure affordable housing, and delivering services that enable tenants to achieve increased wellbeing and inclusion.

Rachael Pascua
Coordinator, R4Respect, YFS
Rachael is the Coordinator of the youth-led respectful relationships initiative R4Respect, developed by YFS in Logan. Since starting in 2016 at age 18, Rachael and her team have spoken to more than 600,000 young people face-to-face and online on respectful relationships. In 2022 Rachael was a Finalist at the 2022 Channel 7 Queensland Young Achiever Awards for her work for inspiring young people to be agents of change in their own communities. She also regularly sits as a Youth Advisor to various tables for the Queensland State and Federal Governments.

Julie Sarkozi
Practice Director, Law Reform and Education
In addition to her work at Women’s Legal Service, Julie has an active caseload of Counselling Notes Protect (CNP) service clients. CNP provides advice, assistance and representation to stop and limit the counselling records of victims of sexual assault or alleged sexual assault from being looked at, read and used in courts. Julie has also worked for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal and Advocacy Support Service and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service.

Amanda Shipway
Director, Integrated Service Responses, Office of Women and Violence Prevention
Amanda oversees the eight High Risk Teams across the State and manages the hundreds of contracts for direct delivery of domestic and family violence services across the State. Amanda is acutely aware of the housing issues impacting women and children escaping domestic and family violence, and works on a daily basis to ensure that an integrated service system response is afforded to women across Queensland in an effort to promote accessibility to safe affordable housing.

Commander Hilda Sirec (APM)
Commander Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, Child Protection Operations and Human Trafficking, Australian Federal Police
Following an extensive 20 year career with the Australian Federal Police Commander Sirec was appointed to her current position of Commander ACCCE, CPO & HT in November 2020. Since joining the Australian Federal Police, Hilda has had significant exposure to a range of portfolios, both nationally and on an international scale across various victim-based crimes.

Simone Waugh
Managing Director, Publicis Queensland
Simone is a communications leader focused on social impact work to change lives for the better. With 20+ years of experience connecting social, business and marketing strategy with consumer behaviour change methodology and activation, she focuses on programs of change to tackle our modern day issues ranging from cyberbullying, mental health, obesity and domestic violence.

Andrew Taukolo
Director, Consultant and Educator
Andrew is a young Australian of Tongan descent. He is passionate about empowering young people to become leaders, and leaders to become agents of change. Andrew has served his community for over 10 years, working in the disability, education, homelessness, diversion, domestic violence and youth sectors. In 2021, Andrew was appointed to the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council, and he also sits on the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Youth Advisory Group. Andrew aims to inspire other young people through his work and appointments.

Kiana
Kiana is a proud Barkindji woman working as a domestic and family violence specialist within The Centre for Women & Co. Kiana provides case management support to women assessed as being at imminent risk of lethality. Kiana works closely with a multi-agency team with particular focus on increasing safety and perpetrator accountability through risk assessment, safety planning, integrated service responses and risk mitigation.