Jess will be chairing the Panel Discussion. Jess Hill is a Walkley-award winning investigative journalist who’s been reporting on domestic abuse for several years. Prior to this, she was a Middle East correspondent, and worked as both a producer and reporter for various programs across the ABC, including AM, PM, The World Today, and Background Briefing. In 2019, she published her first book, See What You Made Me Do, about the phenomenon of domestic abuse in Australia. It was awarded the 2020 Stella Prize, has been shortlisted for several others, including the Walkley Book Award and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award, and has been adapted into a television series for SBS. Currently, Jess is working on an audio documentary series called ‘The Trap’ with the Victorian Women’s Trust, which will be released in August.

Tash is a passionate advocate for children and young people who have experienced family violence and who have been through the out-of-home care system. She is committed to telling her story about growing up in out-of-home care and working to understand the impacts of family violence so that the voices of children and young people are reflected in family violence reform. Tash was the Inaugural Youth and Young Person representative on the Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council (VSAC) in Victoria for three and half years. She is currently the co-chair of Victoria’s firstChild Protection Ministerial Youth Advisory Group (MYAG) and a member of the Roadmap Implementation Ministerial Advisory Group (RIMAG). Tash is also a Lived Experience Consultant with Berry Street’s Y-Change initiative and studying a Bachelor of Animation at Deakin University. In 2017, Tash was a recipient of the ‘Modelling a Generous Community Award’ through the Victorian Protecting Children Awards, in recognition of her significant contribution to various advisory groups and reform bodies. Perhaps Tash’s most well know piece of advocacy is ‘TASH’– a short film that she wrote, illustrated, directed and narrated sharing her personal experience of family violence, living in out-of-home care and how it affected her. The film has been shown at film festivals in Sydney and San Francisco and nominated for awards at CinefestOZ and Sydney Film Festival.

Dr. Marsha Scott is a feminist researcher and practitioner and has advocated, volunteered, researched, and worked in the violence against women sector in the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe for 30 years. Prior to taking up post at Scottish Women's Aid in April 2015, Marsha worked for 10 years at West Lothian Council, where she helped set up and had strategic responsibility for the West Lothian Domestic and Sexual Assault Team.

Natalie Lewis was appointed Commissioner for the Queensland Family and Child Commission in May 2020. Ms Lewis, a Gamilaraay woman, brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge from her distinguished over 20-year career in youth justice, child and family services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. Ms Lewis works with a strong and renewed focus on the systemic and structural issues disproportionately affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Previously, Ms Lewis held the role of Chief Executive Officer with QATSICPP Limited. As Commissioner, Ms Lewis drives change to better the safety, wellbeing and interests of children and young people, including those in the child protection system.

Anne Hollonds is Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner. Formerly Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, for 23 years Anne was Chief Executive of government and non-government organisations focussed on research, policy and practice in child and family wellbeing. As a psychologist Anne has worked extensively in frontline practice, including child protection, domestic and family violence, mental health, child and family counselling, parenting education, family law counselling, and community development. Anne has two small grandchildren.