Open call for nominations from the ISPCAN membership (including self-nominations) have now closed. The deadline for submission was September 30, 2026
Global leaders bring diversity of thought to ISPCAN, working with the CEO and staff to provide duty, care and loyalty to the organization for 4-year terms. They help with strategic planning and ensure financial security for ISPCAN.
ISPCAN’s work embodies Henry Kempe’s desire that all of us working in the field never cease to ask difficult questions, to challenge ourselves to reach beyond what is possible and to strive for what is needed to protect children. We continue to adapt, evolve and progress with our global workforce to rise up to end child abuse.
Passion to make a difference.
In addition to fundraising or building new partnerships for ISPCAN, ideal candidates bring diversity of thought, expertise and a strong network.
Board Members help us to build resources, fill gaps in knowledge, and cultivate new opportunities for members.
Open nominations for our four open Board of Director seats took place from September 1st through September 30th.
After reviewing all candidate applications to ensure that they have met the requirement of at least 2 years of ISPCAN membership in good standing with the organization, and reviewing all candidate's professional references, we are proud to announce that voting is now open for the 6 candidates that are seeking to fill 2 open spots on the board.
The candidates are presented in alphabetical order below:
*Please note: Board candidate CV's and final ballot are only visible to ISPCAN members - please login to view
I am interested in joining the ISPCAN Board of Directors because its mission to prevent child abuse and neglect resonates deeply with
my lifelong commitment as a Disability Activist and child protection leader. For over two decades, I have worked to build inclusive
systems that safeguard children, particularly those with disabilities who are disproportionately vulnerable to sexual and other forms of
abuse.
Through my leadership at CSID and my role in the tri-country CSA coalition, I have advanced regional collaboration on child sexual
abuse prevention, strengthened safeguarding policies, and promoted disability-sensitive approaches in child protection. I believe
ISPCAN provides a global platform where I can contribute this expertise to shape strategy, governance, and advocacy at an
international level.
I am motivated by the opportunity to:
Ultimately, joining the ISPCAN Board is a way to extend my activism and professional leadership to a global stage — ensuring that
every child, regardless of ability or background, grows up free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
I bring over two decades of experience in child protection and disability inclusion, with a proven record of leading national and
international programs that safeguard children and empower marginalized communities. My expertise lies in embedding safeguarding
standards, preventing child sexual abuse, and ensuring disability-sensitive approaches in policy and practice.
Specifically, I can contribute:
I will seek to further ISPCAN’s mission by actively promoting inclusive child protection and safeguarding practices that ensure no child
is left behind. My focus will be on amplifying the voices of children with disabilities, who are disproportionately vulnerable to sexual and
other forms of abuse, and ensuring their protection is central to ISPCAN’s global agenda.
Through my leadership at CSID and my role in the tri-country CSA coalition, I have built strong regional collaborations that can be
mobilized to strengthen ISPCAN’s outreach and advocacy. I will connect ISPCAN with government ministries, NGOs, and disability
rights networks to embed safeguarding standards in national policies and programs.
I will also contribute by sharing research insights, training modules, and best practices from my work across South and Southeast
Asia. These resources can enrich ISPCAN’s knowledge base and reduce program costs. In addition, I will represent ISPCAN in
international forums, advocate for inclusive safeguarding, and mentor staff and members to build capacity.
Finally, I will support ISPCAN’s sustainability by engaging in fundraising and donor partnerships, mobilizing resources from agencies
such as UNICEF, Save the Children, and UK Aid, while promoting ISPCAN’s mission through community events and member
recruitment
ISPCAN’s mission closely reflects the work that has shaped my career: preventing child abuse and neglect, strengthening
multidisciplinary responses when concerns arise, and building sustainable professional capacity in child safeguarding.
I am a child abuse pediatrician trained at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, and I have spent more than a decade
developing child protection services, education, policy, and systems in Saudi Arabia. I currently serve as Director of Employee
Experience & Wellness at the corporate level of King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) and chair the National
Health Committee for Dealing with Abuse and Violence Cases under the Saudi Health Council. I also founded, and continue to direct,
the first structured Child Abuse Fellowship Program in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. From 2023 to 2026, I led the Child & Adult
Protection Section at KFSH&RC.
My work has increasingly focused on translating clinical expertise into national systems and policy. I have led and contributed to
national policies and mechanisms for managing abuse and violence cases within the healthcare sector, working with a wide range of
governmental, healthcare, forensic, human rights, and nonprofit organizations. I have collaborated with the Saudi Public Health
Authority (Weqaya) on workshops and policies for injury prevention and child mortality, and I have served in advisory roles with national
nonprofit organizations, including the King Khalid Foundation. I have also worked with human rights organizations and the National
Forensic Center to strengthen multidisciplinary responses for vulnerable children and families.
I had the privilege of organizing, chairing the scientific committee of, and presenting at the First Saudi National Forum on
“Multidisciplinary Medical Assessment and Policy Integration in Abuse and Sexual Assault Cases within a Unified National Framework.”
I am currently leading efforts to develop a national safeguarding curriculum with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, and to
advance adolescent health, patient emotional safety, and advocacy for children and adolescents. In addition, I chair the Saudi Scientific
Society for Child and Adult Abuse and Domestic Violence under the Saudi Society of Forensic Medicine.
My relationship with ISPCAN has grown over many years. I have been a member since 2013. I have attended ISPCAN congresses as a
delegate in Calgary (2016), Prague (2018), and Milan (2021), lectured in ISPCAN’s online educational activities, and presented in the
Inter-CAP webinar on Medical Child Abuse. I also had the privilege of presenting twice with Dr. Martin A. Finkel, DO, FAAP, in the
ISPCAN workshop “Understanding and Responding to Suspected Child Sexual Abuse.”
These experiences deepened my appreciation
of ISPCAN as a global platform where evidence, education, professional collaboration, and advocacy come together.
From my position in Saudi Arabia, I have witnessed substantial progress in child safeguarding across the region, while also recognizing
how much more can be achieved through sustained international collaboration. The Middle East has growing expertise, emerging
safeguarding systems, and professionals eager to connect with global networks. At the same time, regional perspectives can make an
important contribution to ISPCAN’s global work.
I would like to bring this perspective to the ISPCAN Board by combining frontline clinical experience with education, leadership, policy
development, workforce capacity building, and national system transformation. I hope to strengthen ISPCAN’s engagement in the
Middle East and other regions where specialized child protection systems are still developing, build meaningful bridges between
international expertise and local implementation, and expand opportunities for education, mentorship, research, and multidisciplinary
collaboration.
Serving on the ISPCAN Board would be both a privilege and an opportunity to contribute strategically to an organization that has been
part of my professional journey for more than a decade. I believe that sustainable progress in child protection is achieved when we
connect people, evidence, policy, and systems across borders, and I would be honored to contribute my experience, regional
perspective, and commitment to that mission
Clinical expertise: board certification in pediatrics (American, Saudi and Arab Boards) and specialist training in child abuse pediatrics,
covering physical abuse, sexual abuse and assault, neglect, abusive head trauma and medical child abuse. I established and led (2023
to 2026) a dedicated multidisciplinary child and adult protection service at KFSH&RC and can advise on building similar services.
Policy and systems development: I have led national clinical policies and care pathways, including on sexual abuse and assault and on
medical child abuse, and the development of a national mechanism for managing abuse and violence cases in healthcare. This work
involved the Ministries of Health, Justice, Education and Human Resources and Social Development, and the Public Prosecution.
Education and capacity building: founder and Program Director of the Child Abuse Fellowship Program approved by the Saudi
Commission for Health Specialties, former Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program (2019 to 2024), and training through
Harvard Macy Institute’s Program for Educators in Health Professions. I can contribute curriculum development, webinars, regional
workshops, mentorship and faculty development.
Research: Principal Investigator on a funded national study of COVID-19 and domestic violence and child abuse (KACST), and author
of publications on abusive head trauma, child neglect, sexual abuse prevalence and medical child abuse in Saudi Arabia.
Leadership and governance: as Director of Employee Experience & Wellness at KFSH&RC’s corporate level, I lead organization-wide
programs for staff experience and wellbeing, building on my earlier role as Head of the Employee Wellness Department. I also hold a
Physician Executive MBA (University of Tennessee) and co-chair the KFSH&RC Research Advisory Council. This gives me hands-on
experience in organizational strategy, change and governance that transfers directly to Board work.
Wellness, psychological safety and emotional safety: I lead staff wellbeing initiatives at KFSH&RC, including the Heal the Healer
program, which supports healthcare workers who carry the emotional weight of caring for others. I also promote psychological safety
within teams and emotional safety in pediatric care, and I am a member of the authoring team for the Saudi Commission for Health
Specialties’ Emotional Safety in Pediatric Healthcare curriculum.
This is directly relevant to ISPCAN’s community, since professionals
working in child protection face high levels of secondary trauma and burnout. I can help ISPCAN develop programs and resources that
support the wellbeing of this workforce.
In kind, I can offer my time for education, strategic planning, policy and program review, research collaboration, conference and
scientific committee work, membership engagement, workforce wellbeing initiatives, and the development of culturally responsive
safeguarding resources, including in Arabic.
I would focus on three connected areas: building professional capacity, expanding regional and international collaboration, and turning
evidence into sustainable safeguarding systems.
First, capacity building. I would help expand access to high-quality education, mentorship and multidisciplinary training, especially
where specialized child protection expertise is still limited. Establishing the region’s first child abuse fellowship taught me that lasting
change requires investing in people as well as systems.
Second, regional presence. I would work to strengthen ISPCAN’s membership and partnerships in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and
neighboring regions, engaging hospitals, universities, professional societies and government bodies, and encouraging participation in
ISPCAN congresses, education and research.
Third, evidence into practice. I would support culturally responsive clinical pathways, multidisciplinary models of care, prevention
initiatives and policies that improve how child abuse and neglect are recognized, assessed, managed and prevented.
Throughout, I would advocate for young professionals and emerging safeguarding leaders, since the next generation of clinicians,
researchers and advocates is essential to the long-term strength of child protection systems.
Through Board service, I hope to help
ISPCAN act as an even stronger bridge between global knowledge and local action, so that international collaboration leads to safer
environments and better outcomes for children and families.
I want to join the ISPCAN Board of Directors because I believe my experience in child protection, my long-standing commitment to
advocacy, and my regional and international connections can contribute to advancing ISPCAN’s mission and strengthening its global
impact.
I have worked in child protection since 2008 as a pediatrician, advocate, educator, and leader. Throughout this journey, I have
witnessed both the progress made and the continuing challenges in preventing and responding to child abuse and neglect, particularly
in the Middle East. I believe ISPCAN has a unique opportunity to strengthen its presence and impact in this region while ensuring that
regional experiences and perspectives are represented in the global child-protection dialogue.
I believe I can bring an important Middle Eastern perspective to the Board and help strengthen the connection between the region and
the wider international child-protection community. I can contribute to understanding the cultural, social, and systemic challenges that
influence child protection in the region, while also helping bring international knowledge and best practices into locally relevant
approaches.
I am particularly interested in contributing to the development of ISPCAN’s regional presence, including strengthening a Middle East
regional hub, expanding training and professional networks, supporting regional collaboration, and creating opportunities for knowledge
exchange, research, and advocacy. Serving on the Board would therefore be both a responsibility and an opportunity to contribute to the continued development of ISPCAN as a truly global organization working to prevent child abuse and neglect.
I would bring to ISPCAN practical experience from more than 15 years of working in child protection in the Middle East, including clinical
practice, advocacy, education, and leadership. My particular contribution would be my understanding of the regional context. Through my work, I have developed insight into the cultural beliefs, family dynamics, professional practices, and system-level challenges that can affect the recognition, reporting, prevention, and management of child abuse and neglect in the region. I can help ISPCAN understand where international approaches may need to be adapted to be effective and culturally appropriate in the Middle Eastern context. I can also contribute my experience in building multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration. I have worked with healthcare professionals, social services, educators, government stakeholders, and community organizations and can help bring these different groups together around child-protection priorities.
I have experience developing and leading regional child-protection initiatives, including organizing a regional conference on child abuse
and neglect that brought together professionals and experts from different countries and disciplines. This experience can be directly
useful in supporting ISPCAN’s regional activities and strengthening its engagement in the Middle East.
I can further contribute through training and educational activities, advocacy, mentoring, and sharing practical experience from the region. Most importantly, I can offer my professional time, relationships, and regional network to help ISPCAN develop meaningful
partnerships and create stronger connections between the Middle East and the wider international child-protection community.
I would seek to further ISPCAN’s mission by helping bring research, practice, and policy together to strengthen child-protection systems
and improve outcomes for children. I would support initiatives that bring together research, clinical practice, policy, and the different professionals involved in protecting children. My focus would be on promoting approaches that are evidence-based, practical, child-centered, and relevant to the
communities in which they are implemented.
From my experience in the Middle East, I would also seek to contribute to developing stronger prevention and protection approaches in
the region, while ensuring that regional experience and lessons learned are shared with the wider ISPCAN community.
I would actively support opportunities that strengthen the capacity of professionals, encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, promote
advocacy for children, and support the translation of evidence into practice and policy. I would also contribute to initiatives that give
professionals and regional leaders greater opportunities to learn from one another and share effective practices.
As a Board member, I would seek to contribute not only to individual projects but also to ISPCAN’s long-term growth and impact,
helping strengthen its reach and engagement in the Middle East while contributing to its global mission of improving child protection.
Being part of the ISPCAN Board over the past few years has been a truly rewarding experience; both personally and professionally. I have had the opportunity to work with wonderful colleagues from around the world who share the same passion for protecting and safeguarding children and making a difference. I am proud of what we have achieved together, and I feel there is still so much more we can do.
During my first term, I was actively involved in several initiatives including strengthening global partnerships, serving as Scientific Chair of the Edinburgh Congress, and helping establish a new working group focused on child safeguarding.
One project I am especially excited about is the Child Safeguarding Member Spotlight Podcast, which we are planning to launch in 2027. I will be taking the lead as host and presenter, having conversations with ISPCAN members and safeguarding professionals about their experiences, challenges, and the work they do. I believe there are so many inspiring people within our network whose stories and knowledge deserve to be shared. I hope this podcast will help bring our members closer together, give greater visibility to their work, and create opportunities to learn from one another.
Looking ahead, I would love to see ISPCAN continue to grow, build stronger partnerships, and become even more connected with its members. I believe one of our greatest strengths is the diversity of knowledge and experience within our community, and I would like to see us make even better use of that strength to influence policy, improve practice, and support those working directly with children and families.
I am also passionate about the growing intersection between child rights, safeguarding, and technology, particularly artificial intelligence. With my experience in this area, I feel I can contribute a different perspective and help ISPCAN engage in how emerging technologies are affecting children and the systems meant to protect them. I believe it is important that child protection professionals are part of shaping these developments, rather than simply responding to them.
What I have valued most about being on the Board is the opportunity to work with people who bring different perspectives but share a common purpose. I have learned a great deal from my colleagues, and I genuinely enjoy being part of a team that cares so deeply about its mission.
I would love to continue serving because I believe in ISPCAN, I care about its future, and I want to keep contributing in ways that are practical and meaningful. For me, it is about building on the work we have started, bringing fresh ideas, strengthening our community, and making sure that what we do continues to have a positive impact on children and those working to protect them.
One of the strengths I bring to ISPCAN is my ability to turn ideas into action. I enjoy identifying opportunities, bringing people together, building partnerships, and finding practical ways to move things forward. For me, being on the Board is not just about contributing ideas, but also about taking initiative and helping make things happen.
During my first term I led the CERF Committee, helping bring renewed direction to ISPCAN’s work, supported stronger online engagement, and developed webinars focused on child safeguarding. I also played a leading role in establishing the Child Safeguarding Working Group, an initiative I am particularly proud of. Following our second gathering in Australia, I am now working on the third in Lugano as part of ISPCAN’s 50th anniversary. It has been rewarding to see this initiative grow and create opportunities for professionals from different sectors and regions to connect, share experiences, and strengthen safeguarding practice.
Another contribution I am especially proud of is building strategic partnerships and opening new doors for ISPCAN. I brought Dubai Police on board as ISPCAN’s first law enforcement Country Partner and helped secure a platform for ISPCAN at the World Police Summit in Dubai. I am also working on establishing the ISPCAN Gulf Regional Hub, with the aim of strengthening our presence in the region and connecting government entities, international organisations, researchers, practitioners, and child protection advocates. These are opportunities that I hope will create lasting partnerships and bring new perspectives and expertise into ISPCAN’s global network.
Professionally, I bring over 16 years of experience in international child rights, child protection, and safeguarding governance, alongside my expertise in artificial intelligence and children’s rights. My work has involved collaborating across different sectors and cultures, connecting policy with practice, and supporting approaches that respond to both longstanding and emerging challenges affecting children. I see this experience as particularly valuable as ISPCAN continues to evolve and engage with new issues shaping the future of child protection.
I also bring a strong professional network across the Middle East and internationally, with established relationships across governments, law enforcement, international organisations, civil society, and academia. I can draw on these connections to help ISPCAN strengthen partnerships, expand its reach, and create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and greater member engagement.
Perhaps what I bring most is commitment and follow-through. I enjoy being involved beyond the initial discussion, whether that means connecting people, developing an idea, coordinating efforts, or doing the work behind the scenes to keep things moving. I believe meaningful progress comes from collaboration, consistency, and a willingness to take responsibility.
I would be proud to continue bringing my experience, relationships, energy, and practical approach to ISPCAN, helping strengthen its global presence, support its members, and turn good ideas into meaningful initiatives that make a difference for children and families.
For me, ISPCAN’s strength lies in bringing together professionals from different sectors, countries, and backgrounds who share a commitment to protecting children. I believe our mission is not only about sharing knowledge and making sure it translates into better practice and stronger protection and safeguarding for children.
We have so much expertise, research, and experience within our global community. I would like to see ISPCAN play an even stronger role in making this knowledge accessible and relevant to professionals working with children, across different disciplines and contexts.
I am also passionate about ensuring that ISPCAN continues to evolve alongside the changing world children are growing up in. From longstanding safeguarding challenges to emerging risks in digital environments and artificial intelligence, we need to help professionals anticipate challenges and respond with confidence.
I also want us to think about how we measure our success. It is not just about the conferences we organise, resources we produce, or partnerships we establish. It is about what changes because of them. Are we strengthening professional practice? Are we influencing policies? Are we reaching those who are often overlooked? And ultimately, are we making a difference for children?
That is what I want to continue advancing in another term on the Board: an ISPCAN that turns knowledge into action, strengthens the professionals working to protect and safeguard children, and creates lasting impact.
I am running for a second term. I think it is critically important that board members expand on their experience of being a board
member to move ISPCAN forward in its mission and vision.
I bring a breadth of experience in the medical aspects of child maltreatment with an international reputation. I have provided education
to medical providers across the globe, and will promote the evidence based practice of medicine through ISPCAN.
I will promote the best practices in medicine and pediatrics across the globe.
ISPCAN remains a leader in its field, and I am excited about the future of the organization as it continues to evolve and contribute to global improvements for children. As a member of the Board it would be a privilege for me to utilize my ability, legal knowledge and experience to contribute to these outcomes.
Legal skills; training and capacity building of diverse stakeholders within a child rights framework; organizational skills; advisory; connections with government partners in different jurisdictions and the ability to harness partnerships in this sector; understanding of the intersection between law enforcement & child protection frameworks. I will also continue to work as a part of ISPCAN’s Collaborative Working Group, serve as one of the Working Group Co Chairs for the Lugano ISPCAN Congress (2027) and any other opportunities that my skillsets can assist in advancing ISPCAN’s objectives.
1. I am a global presenter, and I participate in events all over the world – in these engagements I highlight the work that ISPCAN does
and also encourage persons to become members and to attend our Congresses.
2. Through my day-to-day work, ISPCAN’s mission of improving the lives of children one child at a time, guides my approach and that of my organization daily.
3. To reactivate the Office to the Children’s Advocate’s role as an ISPCAN country partner so that events that are convened locally in Jamaica and the region will simultaneously expose participants to the work and mission of ISPCAN.
4. To use my role as Co-Chair of the Collaborative Practice Working Group to explore new ideas within ISPCAN’s broader membership that can guide multi-disciplinary work in different regions.
5. To award increased attention to child appropriate justice systems that enhance the best interests of children who come into contact with the justice system.
I am interested in joining the ISPCAN Board for both personal and professional resources. Professionally, I would like to joint support
ISPCAN with:
(i) Mission Stewardship ensuring activities align with the founding purpose and strategic goals, and that any expansion or shift in programming is consistent with the organization’s values;
(ii) Governance and Legal Oversight to ensure that ISPCAN complies
with all applicable laws and regulations, upholds ethical practices, and maintains good standing with state and federal agencies including adopting and following sound policies, avoiding conflicts of interest, and managing risks
(iii) Strategic Planning and Leadership thus working closely with executive leadership to establish long-term goals, monitor progress toward those goals, and make major decisions about priorities, partnerships, and programs.
(iv) Financial Oversight – being responsible for safeguarding the
organization’s financial health which includes reviewing and approving budgets, monitoring cash flow and financial reports, ensuring
accurate recordkeeping, and overseeing audits
(v) Executive Oversight – thus setting the tone for staff culture, operations, and fundraising
(vi) Fundraising and Resource Development thus leading by example with personal giving and help the organization build its donor base.
(vii) Advocacy and Ambassadorship through building awareness and support for the ISPCAN while also acting as ambassadors in the community, represent ISPCAN at events, and build connections with stakeholders, policymakers, funders, and
other allies.
Personally, I would like to join ISPCAN for
(a) Skill development as ISPCAN provides opportunity to practice high-level skills like research and publishing, strategic planning, budgeting, and financial oversight
(b) New competencies development to learn governance rules, project management, and how to fundraise or ask for financial contributions especially in research field and interrelationship between the various aspects of ISPCAN
(c) Expand my circle of influence through meeting community leaders,
professionals, and prospective partners outside your normal workplace
(d) find mentors as I will be working closely with fellow board
members creating strong professional relationships and mentorship opportunities
(e) connecting with the personal mission connection as I will be supporting a cause I care deeply about and help shape its long-term future
(a) Leadership and Change Management Skills for over 20 years
(b) Over 20 years’ experience in governance and organisational leaderships in the not for profit sectors
(c) Resource mobilisation and fundraising skills that I have attained for over 20 years
(d) Child protection expertise especially in preventing child marriages, child justice, child delinquency and juvenile protection,
managing children on street are the skills and knowledge
(e) Governance and skills from a vast experience in sitting on both regional and international board of directors
Furthering the ISPCAN mission will be done through provision of governance engagement for the ISPCAN, being an ambassador for
the ISPCAN, conducting research and mobilizing the resources for the many events of ISPCAN. I will also work to grow the membership base for ISPCAN through advocacy and networking while also marketing ISPCAN in all the events that I will be participating including internally in YONECO
I am excited to apply for the role of ISPCAN Board Director. I believe I act with a strong ethical, respectful and inclusive approach that is strongly aligned to the culture of ISPCAN. In my previous and current Board roles and as CEO I have developed extensive expertise in contemporary governance and strategic horizon setting that I believe would be of benefit to ISPCAN.
I have dedicated my 38 year social work career to child protection in both statutory and government roles and for the last 28 years in the non-government sector, working nationally across Australia and our regional neighbours, New Zealand, Fiji and Singapore. In recent years I have engaged significantly in the international context being asked to keynote at conferences around the world and nationally and building a network of colleagues across the globe in reciprocal sharing of knowledge, practice wisdom, system innovation and reform in the field of child protection, its prevention and the remediation of trauma and harm caused by abuse and violence. I am very interested in the opportunity to support ISPCAN’s purpose, as it is an area that I have dedicated my career to and one about which I am deeply passionate. I am eager to continue to make a difference and believe that I can add some value to the work of the ISPCAN Board
of Directors.
For the last 28 years I have worked as Deputy CEO and now CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation, and organisation formed 40 years ago as a result of a group child protection advocates seeing the harm of abuse and having attended an ISPCAN Congress, who came back to Australia and formed the Foundation (formerly known as the Victorian Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect – VICSPCAN). Through my leadership we have been strident advocates for the rights of children to safety and protection.
I am deeply committed to changing the current and future lives of children and young people for whom their fundamental rights to safety and protection are denied. Child abuse affects more than 62% of Australian of children and young people in some form, with too many experiencing multiple forms of abuse. Together with the nature of abuse changing and the risks of online exploitation escalating rapidly there is much to be done and much to learn from each other and strive for. Children and young people deserve nothing less. The challenge is not only broadening in scale but deepening in complexity. Many children and young people experience heightened vulnerability because of broader systemic forces including racism, discrimination and exclusion. Increasing tendencies to problematise children and young people in areas such as education, youth justice, out of home care and housing sees them too often framed as problems to be controlled rather than rights‑holders with strengths, needs and contributions. I see this deficit lens fueling narratives, policies and practices that emphasize surveillance and regulation denying children and young people their rights to dignity, participation, protection and belonging, whilst ignoring the structural conditions that place children at risk and the systems that fail them.
The impact of child abuse is devastating and long-lasting. In addition to the human cost to children, young people and families, child abuse causes significant current and downstream social and economic costs to our society. Child abuse and the trauma it causes are deeply systemic. Solutions are not definitive or universally applicable; they must be adaptive, context-sensitive and informed by learning and experimentation. Interventions require the integration of multiple forms of knowledge – practice, cultural, academic and from those with lived experience alongside collaboration across sectors, disciplines and communities.
As the leader of the Australian Childhood Foundation, I have fearlessly challenged government policies as well as collaborated with a range of governments towards policy, legislative and system reforms. I am a recognized national commentator in the Australian media in child protection issues. The growth of abuse in the digital environment requires global action. Its cross-border reach cannot be addressed by domestic efforts alone. I believe strongly in the purpose of ISPCAN and its global work and in the strong alignment and shared ambitions of our two organizations. I believe this was evidenced strongly in our co-hosting of the 2026 ISPCAN Congress in Melbourne.
I look forward to making a contribution to the Board to support the governance and strategy of ISPCAN, drawing on my extensive experience as both a Board Director and CEO of a national organization. I also look forward to bringing perspectives from the global south to the Board conversations and work of ISPCAN.
I bring nearly 4 decades of executive leadership, research, advocacy and frontline experience responding to child abuse and family violence against children, young people and families. Somewhat uniquely I straddle the research, policy and practice landscape with significant expertise across all three domains. My career has been dedicated to strengthening primary prevention, improving early intervention, ensuring child and youth‑centred, trauma‑informed service delivery, and driving whole‑of‑system reform.
What distinguishes my contribution is a deeply embedded children’s rights lens, grounded in participatory practice and lived experience engagement with children and young people.
I am an Adjunct Associate Professor with the Centre for Children and Young People, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University and recognized for my extensive research and publications on trauma, violence, therapeutic care and children’s rights. My CV highlights my research and publications in the area of trauma transformative practice, innovation and the needs of children and young people impacted by violence, abuse and exploitation. I have led national studies tracking community attitudes to child abuse and child protection and authored major reviews on child sexual abuse assessment and intervention, harmful sexual behaviour, and out-of-home care.
I have contributed to major reforms across multiple jurisdictions in child protection, youth justice, out‑of‑home care, and family violence
responses to children and young people. As a founding Board Member of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, I have shaped national priorities and governance structures that aim to achieve systemic transformation in child sexual abuse prevention.
My leadership roles have required me to work across government portfolios, including health, education, justice, child protection and community services, to design integrated, trauma‑informed and rights‑based responses. I have led large‑scale implementation of therapeutic models, workforce reforms and system redesign across multiple jurisdictions, demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of change management in complex systems. I have participated in high level Ministerial Advisory Groups in Australia addressing the issue of child abuse and family violence, out-of-home care and youth justice reform. I have provided government and non-government consultancy in Singapore, New Zealand and Fiji over the years and thus have an understanding of the systems, strengths and
challenges facing our regional neighbours.
I am an invited national and international speaker on trauma‑transformative practice, children’s rights, online exploitation and workforce capability. Critically, I have established expertise working in advocacy and co-design processes alongside children and young people with lived and living experience of violence and exploitation, ensuring their insights shape policy and system reform.
I believe that I can offer a unique perspective in relation to how ISPCAN can integrate a range of forms of knowledge into its sector capacity building, Congresses and conversations. I introduced the concept of knowledge pillars at the Australian Childhood Foundation where, in our work, we draw from, synthesize and apply knowledge drawn from five pillars – research evidence, practice wisdom, cultural knowledges, lived and living experience knowledge and procedural knowledge. As was demonstrated with great success at the recent Congress, the youth streams and cultural knowledge streams were highly successful and well attended by delegates.
I have led multiple longstanding partnerships between the Foundation and Aboriginal organizations across Australia and New Zealand in
metropolitan, rural and remote communities. My recent research on First Nations children’s experiences in therapeutic residential care
(2026) reflects my commitment to culturally safe, community‑led approaches. I have partnered with First Nations organisations to
co‑design programs that embed self‑determination and cultural authority. I believe I can lend this expertise to future Congresses and
conversations within ISPCAN.
My experience in running biannual conferences for the past 14 years for up to 3,000 delegates may be useful to the work of ISCPAN’s
annual Congresses. As Director of the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care I apply contemporary approaches to knowledge mobilization and workforce capacity building.
ISPCAN’s work mirrors that of the organization I have led for many years – to be relentless advocates for change, to not accept the status quo where the status quo is failing children and young people, to challenge taken for granted ways of doing things and foster innovation and reform. We cannot stand still. We must hold the complexity of the problem of child abuse, stand in the perspectives of the many to understand the different ways we can come to see the problem, understand it and find creative, effective and sustainable solutions. As adults in this world that is our job. I look forward to walking with, supporting and contributing to our shared ambitions on
behalf of children and young people who deserve nothing less.
We will only see improvements in the safety and protection of children and young people through collective efforts, sharing knowledge, insights and innovation. I look forward to working with ISPCAN to progress this collective effort.
I am interested in joining the ISPCAN Board because its mission sits at the intersection of the work that has defined my career: bringing together diverse disciplines, systems, and perspectives to improve outcomes for children. As a nurse, attorney, nonprofit leader, and research partner, I have spent the past 18 years building collaborative approaches to child protection. This includes co-founding Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center (Mission Kids) and transforming systems of response in my community and expanding that work internationally to advance collaborative approaches to child abuse.
My relationship with ISPCAN has been an important part of that work. Through my service on the Distinguished Advisory Council (DAC), I chaired the international Steering Committee that brought together experts from multiple countries and disciplines to jointly develop a Framework for collaborative responses to child abuse in low-resource settings and co-authored a paper on its results. I have co-chaired the pre-conference track on collaborative responses to abuse at the past three ISPCAN Congresses, presented in ISPCAN webinars, and participated in ISPCAN’s first Huddle. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the strength of
ISPCAN’s global, multidisciplinary community and the opportunities it creates for meaningful collaboration.
I would welcome the opportunity to build on this experience at the Board level, contributing strategic leadership, organizational expertise, policy and advocacy experience, and a commitment to strengthening connections across countries, disciplines, and sectors. I am particularly interested in helping ISPCAN expand its reach, translate knowledge into action, and create sustainable opportunities for collaboration and impact.
I bring a combination of nursing, legal, research collaboration, nonprofit leadership and governance, fundraising, and systems-change experience that can support ISPCAN across disciplines and regions. As a nurse and attorney, I understand child protection from both health and legal perspectives; as a research collaborator, I bring experience translating research into practice and policy; and as the co-founder of Mission Kids, I bring more than 18 years of experience building, leading, fundraising for, and sustaining a multidisciplinary nonprofit organization.
I will contribute expertise in collaborative responses to child abuse, organizational strategy, governance, nonprofit fundraising and development, coalition building, and translating complex systems into practical approaches. I also bring substantial Board experience, including 12 years on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Chapter of Children’s Advocacy Centers and service in other nonprofit leadership roles.
Through my service on ISPCAN’s Distinguished Advisory Council, I chaired the international Steering Committee whose members jointly developed a Framework for collaborative responses to child abuse in low-resource settings. That experience strengthened my ability to facilitate international, multidisciplinary collaboration and build consensus across professional and cultural contexts.
I will contribute strategic thinking, organizational and Board leadership, fundraising and development experience, writing capacity, mentoring, and access to professional and cross-sector networks. I would also bring a willingness to invest time and relationships in advancing ISPCAN’s priorities.
ISPCAN’s mission is to bring research, practice, and policy together so that child protection systems work better for children everywhere. I would seek to further that mission by helping ISPCAN set the strategic direction, build the partnerships, and secure the resources needed to turn that mission into meaningful impact.
My career has been built around bringing diverse disciplines, systems, and perspectives together to address complex problems. I would bring that perspective to Board-level strategy, helping identify opportunities to strengthen ISPCAN’s role as a bridge among research, policy, and practice and to expand its global reach and influence. My recent presentation at the ISCI (International Society of Childhood Indicators) conference in Corvallis, Oregon, on turning research into policy and on-the-ground implementation reflects an area of work I believe is particularly important to ISPCAN’s mission.
As a Board member, I would further ISPCAN’s mission by contributing to strategic planning and organizational growth, help cultivate
partnerships and resources, and support fundraising and long-term sustainability so that ISPCAN’s staff, committees, members, and partners have the capacity to do their work effectively. I would also welcome the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for ISPCAN—to open doors, build partnerships, and help translate its global mission into meaningful action around the world, while strengthening and expanding the professional network that is at the heart of ISPCAN’s work.
My goal would be to help ISPCAN build the strategy, relationships, and resources that enable its global community to translate knowledge into stronger child protection systems and better outcomes for children everywhere.
Dear ISPCAN Members and Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite applications to join the ISPCAN Board of Directors and help shape the next chapter of our global organization. ISPCAN’s strength comes from the diversity, expertise, and commitment of our international community. We are seeking active leaders who bring strategic thinking, fresh perspectives, strong networks, and a shared commitment to preventing child abuse and neglect worldwide.
Serving on the Board is an opportunity to create a lasting legacy. Board members provide governance and strategic leadership, actively contribute to ISPCAN’s priorities, strengthen global and regional partnerships, and leverage their networks and regional resources to create new opportunities for collaboration, visibility, and impact.
The Board has a distinct role from ISPCAN’s Distinguished Advisory Council (DAC). The Distinguished Advisors have 2 year terms and provide valued high-level technical expertise, counsel, advocacy, and global perspective. Board members hold 4 year terms with formal governance responsibilities and are expected to actively participate in ISPCAN’s strategic direction, oversight, organizational development, and financial sustainability. Both are voluntary positions that are self-funded and must demonstrate leadership through action.
We welcome applicants from diverse disciplines, regions, sectors, and backgrounds who are ready to be active ambassadors for ISPCAN—opening doors, building partnerships, and helping translate our global mission into meaningful regional and national action. Everything we do is for the benefit of our child protection network of professionals. Those serving on the ISPCAN Board of Directors must prioritize ISPCAN and not use their board position for personal gain.
This is an opportunity to help shape ISPCAN’s future and build a stronger, more connected global movement for children; if you have great ideas and want to make a difference, then we invite you to join us. We warmly encourage you to apply and bring your leadership, networks, and vision to ISPCAN.
With best wishes,
Nomination Period:
September 1 -September 30
Candidate Screening Process:
October 1 – October 30
Voting Period:
November 2 – November 16
New Board Members Announced:
November 23
New Board Members Orientation:
December 1 – December 20
New Board Members Term begins:
January 1, 2027
Members of the ISPCAN Election Committee will conduct interviews with all verified candidates prior to the voting period. Candidates moving on from the interview process will complete the election process through ISPCAN Member voting.
The top 4 candidates with the most votes will join the ISPCAN Board of Directors January 2027
Not interested in serving on a fundraisings board?
We have a complimentary board called the Distinguished Advisory Council (DAC) for people interested in providing in-kind expertise, leading a project, producing resources, leading a working group, etc. If you do not wish to fundraise, you should consider nominating yourself for our DAC. This council serves a two-year term and is voted in by the Board of Directors to provide a unique skillset to ISPCAN.
Nominations for the DAC will open January 2027
