Shaan Ross-Smith commenced at Griffith University in late 2016 as the Director of the MATE program delivered through Griffith University’s Violence Research and Prevention Program.
Prior to commencing at Griffith University Shaan spent sixteen years working with prisoners though her various managerial and director roles with Queensland Corrective Services, including Director of Offender Rehabilitation and Management across Queensland. Shaan chose to diversify this experience in 2014 to work with victims/survivors at the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre as the Integrated Response Manager, while continuing to work with perpetrators through a behaviour change program.
Shaan’s passion for ending gender-based violence saw her make the transition to the MATE program at Griffith University where she can focus on primary prevention, after years of working in the response phase. The MATE program is a leadership program focused on the bystanders role in preventing gender based violence. The program has seen significant growth since it’s inception in 2016 and in 2017 MATE was delivered to over 2500 personnel across Australian schools, universities and workplaces. MATE was also awarded the Education award through Australia New Zealand Mental Health Association at the No More Harm Conference in Victoria in 2018 and is a current finalist in the Human Rights Commission Awards 2019. In late 2018 Shaan was instrumental in building a partnership with the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation and writing a training program for corporate Australia using Allison’s story. Shaan represented Queensland at the COAG National summit on reducing violence against women in 2018 and was the Premiers guest speaker at the 2018 White Ribbon event in Queensland. Shaan hosted the inaugural MATE conference in 2018 whereby over 160 attendees converged on the Gold Coast for two days of empowering discussion about gender equality. Shaan has been the guest speaker at a number of events including PWC Domestic Violence Forum, Queensland Treasury IWD, Virgin Australia IWD, Stop DV Conference QT Gold Coast and more recently Minister Farmers Domestic and Family Violence Corporate Forum.
Shaan holds post graduate qualifications in Psychology and is also the Chair of the Board at DV Connect. DVConnect is Queensland’s only 24/7 telephone crisis service for women experiencing domestic violence. DVConnect also includes a mensline and a sexual assault line. More recently, Halcyon and Mirvac gifted a purpose built transitional housing facility to DVConnect. Shaan was instrumental in all stages of design, build and management of this facility, a National first. This project, called Bella’s Sanctuary was recently awarded the Wildcard entry at the Urban Developer Industry Awards 2019.
In 2019, Shaan was listed as one of 20 Queensland Voices – Female Leaders, an initiative of the Queensland Government and Femeconomy, aimed at showcasing Queensland Women striving to create gender equality.
Anoushka is a Bachelor of Behavioural Studies graduate, majoring in Psychology. She has previously worked in Human Resources for the Department of Education and Training with a focus on Employee Relations roles that enabled her to further understand and explore drivers of human behaviour.
Anoushka has a passion for social justice, particularly the promotion of gender equality, the prevention of violence against women and racism and discrimination, therefore, being the Assistant Director of the MATE program is a dream come true as it enables her to have these conversations in diverse and varied environments.
She also facilitates a Men’s Domestic Violence Education and Intervention Program for men convicted of domestic violence related offenses. Anoushka enjoys facilitating training that promotes attitudinal change through critical thinking and analysis of the status quo.
Michael Jeh is a former professional cricketer and Oxford Blue. He has worked extensively inside male professional sport environments, advocating passionately for issues around gender equality and DV prevention education.
He has been a MATE facilitator since 2010 and is a regular panel member on the ABC, discussing issues of relevance to this conference. In his spare time, he doubles as a wildlife ranger in Africa where he is also involved in ground-breaking work around enhancing the lives of rural African women.
Katrina is Chair and Queensland board member of Women in Film and Television (WIFT) Australia, a national advocacy body for gender parity and representation of women in the Australian screen industry. She is co-founder and board member of NOW Australia, a not for profit organization to combat sexual harassment in Australian workplaces.
Katrina is a practicing filmmaker and emerging playwright. She celebrates her Indonesian-Australian heritage and champions representations of diversity.
Stephen Hoskin is a men’s counsellor and specialist facilitator with over 20 years experience. He has a passion for facilitating conversations for change in relation to gender and violence in our culture. His own curiosity was sparked when, at the age of 7, he found a badge at his local surf spot that said ‘surf against sexism ‘.
His life’s work has been to explore the gendered nature of violence with groups of men, women and young people and the effects/impacts it has on all of us.
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Degree in Counselling.
With qualifications in justice studies, youth work, aboriginal and intercultural studies, and public sector management, Kirsty has a unique skillset. With 15 years’ experience in the Criminal Justice System including 9 years in leadership positions within Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) Kirsty has established a thorough understanding of the complexities of violence and its impact on the perpetrator, victim, families and broader community.
Kirsty has qualifications in Prince2 Project Management, which has led to her being a project lead on the Queensland Corrective Services GPS tracking project. Kirsty has also served as the nominated Public Servant on the Queensland Parole Board.
Kirsty has a passion for positive social change, engaging organisations and individuals to create, lead and evolve and a thirst to end inequality in all its forms.
Co-Chief Editor of International Social Work (SAGE) , Professor of Social Work and International Lead School of Human Services and Social Work
Professor O’Leary also oversees the MATE program as the Director of the Violence Research Prevention Program.
Professor O’Leary has held numerous senior posts at various universities. At Griffith University Patrick has recently been the Head of School of Human Services and Social Work, He is an internationally recognised researcher with significant expertise in domestic violence/gender-based violence, child protection in Australia, child protection in social development and humanitarian contexts, social work, long-term impact of child sexual abuse (especially in men), and socially excluded young people. Professor O’Leary has published in high quality journals as well as reviewing extensively for journals. Professor O’Leary’s work has influenced international domestic violence and child protection policy and practice. Recently Professor O’Leary was commissioned as an Expert Academic Advisor to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a particular focus on male victims and the long-term effects.
Dr Mazerolle was the visionary who brought the bystander conversation to Australia through MVP and under his leadership, MATE was developed. He continues to be an advocate for the work that MATE does.
Dr Mazerolle is now the 19th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick, Canada.
Prior to his return to Canada in July 2019, Dr. Mazerolle was the Pro Vice Chancellor (Arts, Education and Law, 2009-2019), campus provost for Mount Gravatt campus (2009-2019), Director of the Violence Research and Prevention Program (2006-2019), and Director of the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance (2007-2009) at Griffith University. He was also director of Research and Prevention at the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission (2002-2005) and Head of the Criminology program at the University of Queensland (2000-2006).
For sixteen years, Dr. Shannon Spriggs Murdoch has been a global messenger committed to the prevention of all forms of gender-based violence. As a leading gender violence prevention educator, Dr. Murdoch has impacted thousands of people worldwide by delivering transformational education regarding the issues they face in their everyday lives, and the far-reaching impact of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment, gender roles and language.
Dr. Murdoch is a senior consultant for the Institute for Sport and Social Justice, with an emphasis on the growth and development of its Huddle Up to end gender violence program. Huddle Up leverages the transcendent power of sport to eradicate gender violence, in all of its forms, and the sexism underpinning this abuse.
Upon returning to the US from Australia in 2017, she served as the Prevention Director for the Texas Council on Family Violence. Dr. Murdoch provided strategic vision that elevated the Council’s prevention work in Texas, while also fortifying training and technical assistance to prevention education providers in the state.
In Australia, Dr. Murdoch worked for Griffith University in Brisbane to introduce and build a national profile for Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP). After the successful implementation of MVP, she developed and delivered a country-tailored prevention model, called MATE, throughout Australia. Her groundbreaking work in Australia resulted in the Premiere of Queensland appointing Dr. Murdoch to the prestigious Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council.
From 2006-2010, Dr. Murdoch served as the Assistant Director of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) National Partnership, the first and largest gender violence prevention initiative in college and professional athletics in North America, and the first to utilize the “bystander” approach. Dr. Murdoch was the operations leader of MVP as well as a core trainer. She was the lead contact for MVP’s cutting-edge conference-wide contract with the Big Ten Conference.
Dr. Murdoch earned a BA in Communication and MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. She earned a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. While at UT – Arlington, Dr. Murdoch was a scholarship student-athlete for the Women’s Basketball team.
Sasha joined the MATE team in 2019 following several years in the veterinary sector, where she devoted her time to caring for injured animals and grieving pet owners.
Not only does Sasha have an extensive background in veterinarian practices, including a Certificate II and IV in Veterinarian Nursing, she also has a Certificate III in Children's Services and has significant experience working in early learning centres.
Sasha's passion for kindness and empathy for all living forms saw her make the transition to the MATE team where she forms an integral part of the collective culture.
Ria Wong has 14 years professional experience in human services, criminal justice & Domestic and Family Violence which has inspired her to make a difference in this space, connecting with as many individuals as she can to find their voice.
After tertiary study in Criminology & Criminal Justice, Ria worked with Queensland Corrective Services, as a Probational and Parole Officer and Manager across the state of Qld
Leaving this path with a yearning to make a wider difference with victims, Ria commenced working in specialist Domestic and Family Violence roles with Domestic Violence Prevention Center, Gold Coast and later moved to implement reform recommendations with the Qld Government.
Ria is currently Company Secretary and Non- Executive Director of Micah Projects Inc.
Growing up Dean pursued a career in Rugby Union representing the Queensland Reds U20’s however a run of injuries led him to pursue tertiary studies in Criminology.
Dean has achieved a career working in various roles within the criminal justice system in both metropolitan and rural Indigenous communities. His primary function has been interviewing and completing risk assessments to inform the rehabilitation of offenders convicted of violent and sexual offences often in liaison with the Queensland Police Service.
His passion for ensuring the safety of women and children led him to specialize in working directly with the perpetrators of Domestic and Family Violence.
Dean is a facilitator of the Men’s Domestic Violence Education and Intervention Program which aims to change the underlying belief systems of men who choose to use violence in their relationships.
Whilst an effective rehabilitation program, Dean recognizes a community of effective bystanders is the best opportunity for achieving gender equality, safer men and respectful relationships which will prevent gender violence.
Dean became passionate about the MATE Program after reflecting on his personal experiences growing up and the messages he received from society and sporting systems about what it is to ‘be a man’ and harmful gender stereotypes.
Hannah has more than eight years professional experience in human services, including service management, organisational governance, project management, and frontline service delivery in the domestic and family violence sector.
She is passionate about centering and elevating women’s voices, and has a strong sense of social justice and a commitment to social change. Hannah holds a BA in Sociology and a Masters of Gender Studies (Research).
Deborah Candler is an ordained pastor on the Gold Coast with a BA in Children’s Dentistry and Community Oral Health, post graduate degrees in theology and a Masters in Ministry and Cross-Cultural Leadership. Deb is also a key-note speaker at conferences, seminars and churches, a lecturer, mentor and author.
Deb's newest book Framed: Big Pictures of Us, the Stories We've Been Told - and the Ones We Must Re-Form is being released in 2021. Her mantra is "Expanding capacity to see better options, make better choices and get better outcomes."
Mira holds a Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Sydney. She has experience in leadership roles as well as direct client work with people who are sleeping rough and women who have experienced domestic and family violence. She also provides Supervision for Social Work students.
Mira has worked in the territory education sector, in areas of sexual assault and harassment prevention, as well as providing direct support to university students who have are survivors of sexual assault and harassment. Mira is passionate about making change, believing strongly in the values of social justice, human rights and equity for all.
Dr Fiona Baird is an experienced senior lecturer having worked at multiple Australia universities over the last decade or so. Since 2012, Dr Baird has been delving into the realm of education as a full-time lecturer with completion of a Graduate Certificate of Education (JCU) in 2014. In 2016, she was awarded a Senior Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy (UK). In December 2016, Dr Baird joined the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences at Griffith University on the Gold Coast and is the Course Convenor of 1014MSC Cells, Tissues and Regulation which is part of Foundation Year Health. Since 2019, she has been a MATE Bystander Trainer and in collaboration, Dr Baird has developed an active bystander training program for undergraduates. MATE Bytes is a ten-topic embedded program that has been delivered to first-year students from over thirty degree programs in Foundation Year Health. Her passion lies in educating the next generation of health professionals to create safe, diverse, and inclusive spaces for all.
