Dr Victoria Whitington is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Australia. Her higher degree supervision and research areas include critical perspectives on children's learning and development, children’s wellbeing in education settings, early brain development, and contextually based, dialogic, democratic and rights-based approaches to early childhood education. Victoria has been Chair of the Gowrie SA Board since 2000, and at UniSA, provided long term leadership in early childhood education. She formerly worked for thirteen years as a classroom teacher with children from 5-12 years. Victoria is a member of the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion, University of South Australia.

Phil is a Palawa man, of clan group Pore dareme and his country is Lutrawita. In 1991, he moved from Tasmania with his family to take up employment at the University of Adelaide. He has largely been involved in working with Aboriginal families and in particular, the young people in those families. Phil has for many years, across a range of positions, endeavoured to re-introduce ‘culture’ back into young people’s lives; history has depleted that knowledge, and in recent years he has brought to the 21st century the ancient ideas of ‘sitting and doing your learning’ through the use of all the arts. This method of learning is ancient, did work and does work. For Phil it is a natural fit as he is a semi-professional musician and artist and so combining his knowledge in these areas adding to his cultural knowledge, has resulted in outstanding outcomes.

Sally’s research aims to improve the healthy development and early learning of young children, with a focus on those living in highly disadvantaged communities. Her research is conducted across Australia, as well as countries in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Emirates. Sally works in close partnership with international governments and donor organisations, such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and UNESCO. Her expertise includes population monitoring to determine the prevalence, distribution and magnitude of inequality in child outcomes and pragmatic randomised control trials to evaluate the impact and cost effectiveness of interventions. Sally’s research has had significant global and local impact and is highly relevant for the disciplines of early education, community development, and development economics. Sally regularly advises government and sits on numerous Expert Advisory Groups informing policy and practice. With over 200 publications, including high impact journals such as The Lancet, and her track record in achieving highly translatable research, Sally is well recognised nationally and internationally in both academic and policy environments.

Yvonne is a Kokatha/Wirangu woman from South Australia and a clinically endorsed psychologist with her PhD. Yvonne has extensive experience as a psychologist, academic and researcher within government, private, community controlled, university and institutional sectors. As a clinician she has worked mainly with children, adolescents and their families in various contexts. Yvonne is currently Associate Research Professor, University of South Australia (UniSA). This is a joint appointment between the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and UniSA within the discipline of Psychology. Yvonne commenced in this 80% research-focused role in late March 2022. Her previous role of Senior Research Fellow with SAHMRI was as chief investigator on a research project to explore and promote healing and recovery among Aboriginal children, young people and parents who have experienced intergenerational trauma and lateral violence.

Richard was admitted to legal practice in 1998 and has worked at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Spencer Gulf Community Legal Service, Legal Services Commission and Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement prior to going to the Bar in 2008. He practices mainly in criminal and administrative law and has a wealth of experience representing Aboriginal, refugee, and socially disadvantaged people. He was counsel in the first ever Supreme Court Aboriginal Sentencing conference and continues a keen interest in advocating issues relating to Aboriginal people within the criminal justice system in particular.

Helen became South Australia’s inaugural Commissioner for Children and Young People in April 2017. Helen has extensive experience in executive leadership roles in a range of not-for-profit organisations. Prior to taking the role as Commissioner, Helen was the Executive Director of Australian Red Cross in South Australia and Chair of the South Australian Council of Social Service Inc (SACOSS). Helen is a long-time advocate for building respectful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations and has established networks and relationships through her position as a Co-Chair of Reconciliation SA. Throughout her career, Helen has taken an active advocacy role on the main policy issues that impact on the wellbeing of Australian families and children, with a strong focus on early intervention and prevention strategies.

Paul has been employed by the Campbelltown City Council for over 31 years initially starting as Assistant Engineer in 1991, working his way through the ranks to the position of General Manager, Infrastructure Services and then in 2007 being appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer. His career is evidence of his ambition to make a professional contribution to the community which has been a significant part of his life. Paul is a qualified Civil Engineer, and holds post graduate qualifications including Graduate Diploma, Municipal Engineering, Diploma of Management and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. The extensive skills and experience he has gained through working in Local Government has enabled him to actively participate in a number of external Board positions. He is currently a Director, Swan Gourmet Catering; President, Norwood Football Club; Deputy Chair, East Waste; Board member, Service to Youth Council; and Board Member, Adelaide Cemeteries Authority. He formally held roles as Australasian President, Institute of Public Works Engineering; National Chair, Foundation of the Advancement of Municipal Engineers; Director, Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government; Board member, Rostrevor College and Board member, Australia Day Council (SA). Paul is married with 3 children, all attending University. In his spare time he enjoys watching all sports, especially football and cricket.

April was appointed as South Australia's inaugural Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in October 2018. April is a proud Aboriginal woman who heralds from the Mirning and Kokatha peoples from the Far West Coast of South Australia. April holds a social work degree which led to an early career in front line child protection work and Aboriginal foster care services. April moved into management roles of Aboriginal social welfare policy and programs and later took on a range of executive leadership roles in South Australian Government agencies including Aboriginal Justice Director in the Attorney General’s Department, SA Health Aboriginal Health Branch Director and Director of Aboriginal Education. Over the last 30 years, April has contributed to the formation of policy at the State and National level, and excellence in service innovation and community development with regard to Aboriginal health, education, child and family services, foster care services, justice services, across the metropolitan and regional areas, including rural/remote. April strongly believes that we need to bring the voices of Aboriginal children and young people and their communities into how we are designing and delivering health, education, justice and child protection systems and services so that Aboriginal children and young people can flourish with their right to family and culture upheld. She believes that to improve services and outcomes, we need to recognise the solutions coming from our Aboriginal communities and families and act upon them in a meaningful way.

Barbara is Adjunct Professor of Education and Social Development, at the University of South Australia: Education Futures. She is recognised nationally and internationally for work on youth voice, cyber/bullying, sexting, mental health, wellbeing, and the role of technology in young people’s social relationships. With a particular interest in pre-service teacher education and the translation of research to policy and practice, Barbara has led the following major projects: review of the National Safe Schools Framework (the overarching wellbeing policy framework for all Australian schools); A Public Health Approach to Sexting; Youth Exposure to and Management of Cyber-Bullying Incidents in Australia; and the Safe and Well Online Study: Young and Well Co-operative Research Centre, a collaboration between end-users and industry partners. She is a member of the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion.

Tricia was appointed Chief Executive of Carclew in 2008, and oversees a
state-wide multi-arts program for children, young people and early career artists. Tricia has a background of 30 years in community arts and cultural development, regional arts, youth arts, adult education and small publishing ventures. She is experienced in strategic leadership, not-for-profit governance, organisational change and policy development. Past roles include director of the regional arts program at Country Arts SA and manager of Kurruru Aboriginal Youth Performing Arts. Tricia chairs A>R>T, a group of artists and educators supporting arts rich learning. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the South Australian Governor’s Leadership Foundation and has recently stepped down as a non-executive director of the Australian Dance Theatre.

Jo joined the National Disability Insurance Agency in January 2015 and is currently in the role of Branch Manager, Compensation Recoveries. Over the past three years she has been active in the development and implementation of the NDIS in positions of National Relationship Manager – SA, NT, WA and Queensland, Branch Manager Communications, Regional Manager SA and far west NSW, and Director Engagement and Funding. Prior to this Jo worked for The Body Shop, personal care retailers in Australia and the UK and then took on the role of Manager with The Big Issue street paper, establishing it in South Australia and across other Australian states. Jo has also been involved in the community sector in senior positions with Anglicare SA, Oxfam Australia Trading and Time for Kids and in voluntary roles with Homelessness SA and Housing Legal Clinic; developing programs and services relating to homelessness, family crisis support, emergency relief, social justice, social enterprise, project start-up and alternative care plus media, marketing and communications.

Neil is a Paediatrician with clinical specialisation in developmental disability. He has held Executive Management positions in community child health services in South Australia (1983-98) and Queensland (1998-2013). Neil has retired from clinical practice and has served as a member of the Advisory Council of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network in SA. Neil has a Master of Policy and Administration and has held academic appointments at Universities in Adelaide and Brisbane. In his involvement with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians he contributed professional leadership and education at State, national and international levels. Neil’s major research contribution was in the Port Pirie Lead Cohort Study, examining the impact of environmental lead exposure on children’s health and development. His key professional interests include child health, population health, child development, and service and policy evaluation.