Our events committee
Canberra group convenors
Julie Robert
Canberra leader
Julie Robert is the Sector Standards and Practice Lead at the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). She leads ACFID’s work on sector standards and practice, supporting members to apply the ACFID Code of Conduct in ways that strengthen practice, accountability and effectiveness. She also oversees the ongoing development of the Code and the provision of guidance, tools and learning opportunities for members.
Julie has more than 13 years’ experience across national and jurisdictional peak bodies in the international development, settlement, Aboriginal community-controlled health, blood-borne virus, and alcohol and other drugs sectors. Her work has focused on sector and workforce development, organisational capacity building, research, policy, stakeholder engagement and partnerships. She has also held senior leadership roles, including serving as Interim CEO of the Settlement Council of Australia. Julie holds a master’s degree in anthropology and is passionate about collaboration, equity and evidence-informed practice.
Melbourne group convenors
Jill Scanlon
Melbourne leader
Jill is a Media and Communications consultant in the Development sector with a particular interest and strength in Sport for Development advocacy, facilitation and partnerships.
She is also a journalist, lecturer, returned Australian volunteer (Pacific) and strong advocate of social inclusion (gender and disability), especially through sport, and has worked with the NGO Sport Matters as Media Adviser since 2014.
Jill worked for the ABC in international broadcasting for 25 years and then turned her focus to blending her love of writing and sport with her passion for the work being done in the international and community development sector underlined by her BA in Media, Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Masters Degree in International and Community Development.
She has spent two of the past three years living and working as a volunteer in Vanuatu in Media and Communications roles which mainly involved capacity building, strategic planning and stakeholder/partnership development.
Catherine Green
Catherine spent 2012 in the Solomon Islands as a volunteer through the Australian government volunteer program. She has maintained a strong interest in Pacific affairs and cultural heritage, particularly in the Solomon Islands since that time.
Catherine has worked for over 25 years in the archives and records management field, in government and in the private sector. She holds degrees in library and information management, Diploma studies in management and project management practice and a Masters in Cultural Heritage studies. Recent work experience has focused on project management, policy and process development and on liaising with stakeholders to make information accessible through digitisation and outreach programs.
Catherine is closely involved as a volunteer in organisations within her local community and has an interest in cultural heritage.
Sydney group convenors
Communications Coordinator
Michel’le Donnelly
A passionate storyteller, Michel’le believes that sharing stories has a key role to play in today's social justice movement. As a feminist, she has made it a priority to work to achieve gender equity in the world. When not freelancing as a digital communications specialist, you can find Michel’le writing, laughing or arguing in favour of pineapple on pizza. She also runs an online newsletter that serves as a platform for women of colour creatives to share their work
Communications Intern
Claudia Miranda-Veloso
Claudia has been building a career in the humanitarian and global affairs sectors in strategic communications, advocacy, and community-led program design, with a focus on amplifying the voices and stories of women and marginalised communities in international affairs. She is passionate about human-centred approaches to diplomacy and development that prioritise the lived experiences and dignity of people, and builds communities without borders.
Claudia's volunteering experience includes community capacity-building in Laos and strategic communications across youth-led Australian organisations. As co-founder of ‘Safe Space’ in Laos, a volunteer initiative developed in partnership with Village Focus International, she helped design and deliver community-led programs supporting women and girls who had experienced or were at risk of human trafficking. She then served as Senior Marketing Officer at the Young Diplomats Society, leading strategic communications campaigns that amplified young emerging voices in international affairs.
Claudia holds an Honours degree in International Relations and an Arts degree majoring in Criminology from the Australian National University, where her thesis examined alternative peace governance models developed through a multiethnic women's liberation movement in North East Syria. She completed a semester exchange at the University of Edinburgh and is an avid language learner with knowledge of French, Spanish, Portuguese, and is now attempting Mandarin.
Mentoring Committee
Vivian Chordi
Terina Stibbard
Communications Committee
Jill Scanlon (Chair)
Michel’le Donnelley
Prue Vincent
Claudia Miranda Veloso - Communications Intern
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Carla Hasrouni
Carla brings over 20 years of fashion industry experience in design leadership, working closely with women artisans around the world throughout her career. A longstanding advocate for human rights and social justice, she moved into the not for profit sector as an Employment Advocate at SSI, supporting refugees with disability into sustainable employment. Carla brings a background in creative problem solving, team leadership and a genuine commitment to social impact to her volunteer work with WiAD.
Mentoring Coordinator
Ella O’Bree
Ella is a Master of Public Health student who coordinates the Mentoring Program on a volunteer basis. In this role, she facilitates communication between the Mentoring Committee, mentors, and mentees, and assists with matching mentors with mentees.
The Mentoring Program works to provide women working in the sector, or planning to work in the sector, with support and encouragement to advance their careers and position themselves for leadership roles. The program also delivers significant benefits to mentors, who expand their network of sector leaders, develop leadership skills, build relational management skills, raise their sector profile, and provide vital support to emerging leaders.