Shaan Ross-Smith is a visionary leader and advocate for equality, inclusion, and violence prevention. As a qualified psychologist and mediator with a passion for human kindness, she has dedicated her career to creating safer and more inclusive communities. With over 15 years of experience in Queensland Corrective Services, Shaan held various leadership roles in complex custodial and community settings, gaining expertise in offender rehabilitation and domestic violence prevention.

In 2013, she joined the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre as the Integrated Response Manager, where she led high-risk domestic violence case management and contributed significantly to improving safety for victims. She later returned to Queensland Corrective Services as Director of Offender Rehabilitation and Management Services, overseeing prison programs and playing a key role in developing Southport’s specialist Domestic Violence Court.

In 2016, Shaan became the Director of Griffith University’s MATE Bystander Program, a groundbreaking initiative that challenges societal attitudes towards violence through a bystander approach. Her leadership extended to her tenure as Chair of DVConnect, where she spearheaded key technological and service upgrades, and helped establish a transitional facility for women escaping domestic violence.

Shaan’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including induction onto Queensland’s Domestic Violence Prevention Honour Roll. Currently, she serves on the Queensland Parole Board, the Domestic and Family Violence Justice Reform committee, and the QMusic Safety and Diversity Group, continuing her advocacy for systemic change.

​After nearly a decade with MATE, Shaan and co-founder Kirsty launched The Be There Group, expanding their work to provide more comprehensive support and training to empower bystanders in workplaces and communities. Shaan’s lifelong commitment to preventing violence and promoting equality has made her a pivotal figure in these fields, working to build a more compassionate and just society.

Ben Vasiliou is a social entrepreneur and the proud CEO of The Man Cave, Australia’s leading preventative mental health charity for teenage boys and young men. Ben is a social justice advocate, a seasoned CEO and a Father of 2. He is passionate about helping boys become great men. He has held a number of non-executive director board positions with Australian charities and is a Justice of the Peace. Ben graduated from the Executive Education in Social Entrepreneurship Program at Stanford University. Most importantly, Ben has an insatiable appetite to change the world.

Dr Louise McCuaig currently serves as the Head of the Flinders Discovery Institute at Matthew Flinders Anglican College, a co-educational P-12 school located on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Louise’s leadership of the Discovery Institute draws upon her years as a University of Queensland educator and researcher. At UQ, Louise was recognised for translating complex research into the practical realities of school health-related policy, curriculum and assessment. She has conducted curriculum design and research projects with organisations such as Queensland Health, ACARA, Family Planning Queensland and the World Anti-Doping Authority. Since joining Flinders, Louise’s research has informed the design and implementation of the Inspiring Futures suite of signature youth leadership programs, including the successful Leading Men at Flinders strategy that focuses on positive masculinity and building ethical leadership amongst young men.

With nearly 40 years of experience teaching and leading in NSW Department of Education secondary schools, Katherine has made a significant and sustained contribution to public education. Her career includes roles as Head Teacher PDHPE, Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, and Senior Education Officer, where she was part of the leadership team responsible for the statewide rollout of professional learning for the Digital Education Revolution (DER).

For the past decade, Katherine has served as Deputy Principal at Burwood Girls High School, leading the school’s recognised Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) program. Her leadership has shaped a whole‑school approach that embeds respect, inclusion and equity into everyday practice. This work actively engages staff, families and students, positioning Burwood GHS as a system advocate and case‑study school for RRE. Through this sustained focus, the school community experiences a culture where safety, trust and positive relationships are intentionally cultivated and consistently reinforced.

Rebecca is an experienced educator with a proven leadership record in diverse schools in Europe, Asia and Australia. Rebecca has Masters of Education from Monash University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In addition, Rebecca graduated from the University of Tasmania, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours and a double major in English, with minors in History and Psychology. Her commitment to lifelong study, values-based leadership, service to education and pathways for all students is richly entrenched in her DNA.

With over 25 years’ experience in education, Rebecca has taught and held leadership positions around the world, including at the Western Academy of Beijing (an innovative three programme IB World School) in Beijing, China where Rebecca lived for 9 years. Rebecca was the Secondary Principal at Inter-Community School Zurich for six years and the High School Principal at UWCSEA (United World College of Southeast Asia), a world class international school with over 1500 High School students, excellent academic results and a strong focus on educating the whole child. Having taught overseas since 2003, Rebecca returned to Australia in 2022 with a wealth of knowledge, strong inter-cultural competencies and a deep understanding of how to “think global and act local” in education. She is a vibrant and passionate Principal who believes in creating highly collaborative cultures where students thrive and become the change makers the world needs. Rebecca has a high regard for integrity, humility and the HVGS motto “Success through Endeavour”, and a keen interest in partnering with parents and the local community to create diverse pathways for students.

Tony is the Executive Manager of Clinical Practice and Quality at Family Life.

A psychotherapist, behaviour change facilitator and clinical supervisor, Tony has 10 years’ experience delivering trauma-informed leadership and resilience training to corporate and non-profit organisations.

He started his clinical career in the Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) sector, working as an AOD forensic clinician, clinical supervisor and program manager. After upskilling as a Men’s Behaviour Change Facilitator, Tony broadened his clinical expertise beyond AOD to include working with men who use Family Violence (FV).

Spurred by his passion for innovation, Tony realised there were gaps, deficiencies and opportunities for improvement within the mainstream approaches to working with men using FV. He then went on to develop bespoke interventions aimed at working more effectively with men who use FV to help combat these shortfalls. Tony believes that the integration of psychotherapeutic philosophies and interventions is an essential component to working more effectively with men who use family violence.  

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Counselling (Australian College of Professional Psychology)
Graduate Certificate – Male Family Violence (Swinburne University)
Certificate – Clinical Supervision (LaTrobe University)
Graduate Diploma – Psychology (Monash University)

Dr Krista Fisher is a global thought leader in young men’s mental health and digital culture. As a Research Fellow at the Movember Institute of Men’s Health and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Krista explores how online worlds are shaping young men’s wellbeing, health and relationships. Translating evidence into policy and action, Krista is passionate about sparking conversation, breaking down silos, and driving meaningful change – for young men, and everyone around them.

Daniel Principe is a passionate youth advocate and educator. He champions boys across Australia to challenge culture and aspire to live courageous, respectful and empathetic lives.
Daniel is a trained health professional with a strong background in PR, marketing, media and health advocacy. His approachable communication style is both knowledgeable and fun. He is a regular guest on TV, radio and podcasts to discuss healthy masculinity, consent, respectful relationships and the cultural challenges young people are facing.

Matt Tyler has completed internationally significant research and groundbreaking program delivery related to preventing men’s violence, addressing child sexual abuse and improving outcomes for children and young people. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University and member of Childlight’s East Asia & Pacific Hub Board at the UNSW. He is currently working across a range of projects related to healing and recovery among children and young people, perpetration of violence and collective advocacy efforts engaging the federal government.

He has traversed diverse worlds – improving child protection in the United States with Harvard’s Government Performance Lab, engaging with young Indigenous men in the Kimberley, and driving change at a grassroots level as a Mayor in Melbourne’s West. Most recently, during seven years as on Jesuit Social Services Executive team, he was responsible for leading research on the Adolescent Man Box as well as Australia’s first child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence study. This research informed a range of practice efforts including establishing Australia’s first helpline – Stop it Now! – working with people at risk of sexually abusing a child as well as a range of programs with adolescents at-risk of harming others many of whom had been victims of violence themselves.