Leadership Team 

Priya Chandra 

Chairperson

Priya Chandra has over 20 years’ experience as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy and is the founder of a consultancy specialising in helping small businesses go digital. Priya served two deployments in the Middle East and worked in many different areas including marketing; communications and public affairs; information technology; human resources; and risk and governance.  Born in India and brought up in Adelaide, Priya has lived and worked in nearly every State and Territory, as well as in the UK. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is studying for a Master in Strategic People Management.

Dr Helen Hickson

Treasurer

Dr Helen Hickson is a Researcher and accredited Social Worker. She has worked internationally and has a long-standing interest in sustainable and healthy rural communities. Her interests include health workforce planning, community recovery after disaster, and community health and wellbeing. Helen is a Graduate of the AICD Company Director's Course and holds Board Director roles, where she contributes skills in stakeholder engagement, strategy and planning, and risk management. 

Erin Broben

Board Member

Erin fell in love with volunteering for non-profits in her first year studying at LaTrobe University Bendigo in 2003, when she started volunteering at events for the Bendigo Student Association. Erin moved on from this to become a member of the Board of the Bendigo Student Association and has since been a passionate volunteer, committee and board member for numerous non-profit organisations across Bendigo. Erin is a voice for social change and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Community Development, while also working in the youth mental health sector.  

Andie West 

Board Member

A solid foundation was established for Andie, after completing her tertiary studies with a focus on psychology, sociology and women’s studies. With 25 years’ experience working in the sector, Andie’s passion for working with vulnerable families and children began as a Foster Care worker in Shepparton, Victoria.   It was in this case management position she realised her place was working directly with children who had been exposed to trauma, rather than referring on to specialist services. Andie has held positions with Centre Against Sexual Assault (Bendigo), Bendigo Community Health Services and EASE (now the Centre for Non-Violence.  Andie also established her own Equine Assisted Therapy program, to provide counselling and experiential learning opportunities for those who had experience significant trauma.  Andie is currently Manager Community Services for the City of Greater Bendigo.

Dr Grace Brown

Board Member

Grace has qualifications (including a PhD) in social work. She moved to Central Victoria about 20 years ago to take a break from social work and to escape the city. After establishing businesses in hospitality and tourism, Grace moved into social work academia and now works in her business as an academic consultant. Grace is passionate about the work undertaken by CNV and has been a member of the CNV board for much of the past 20 years. She is committed to ensuring women’s voices are heard in the tertiary education sector. 

Amy Holmes

Board Member

After many years committed to providing one to one health and wellbeing services, Amy realised that her passion was to support community more broadly. Returning to university she studied public health and transitioned her career into the community health sector. Holding positions with Bendigo Loddon Primary Care Partnership, City of Greater Bendigo, and Loddon Shire Council, Amy has experienced a variety of public health and community service portfolios. Her most recent position is at Macedon Ranges Shire Council as Manager Community Strengthening.

Amy is looking forward to utilising her skills and experience as Board Member for the Centre for Non-Violence, to contribute to the empowerment of women, their safety, and a violence free world.

Emily Pearson 

Board Member

Emily combines experience at the school and systems level to lead meaningful change towards equity, such that all Australian children can live a life of choice and contribution.

Emily’s career has focused on improving education outcomes for vulnerable Australians. Emily has experience in organisation leadership, strategy and operations, and social impact evaluation. Emily is a Principal Researcher at the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO), leading policy and research projects on school improvement.

Emily has previously worked as an Assistant Principal - Director of Operations at a large school in Melbourne's outer west and as the Head of Strategy and Impact at an education not-for-profit. Emily is an Alumna of Teach For Australia's Leadership Development Program. Emily holds a Bachelor of Science, Post Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Master of Evaluation.

Emma Doherty

Board Member

Emma is a purpose-driven leader and works in the family violence sector leading strategic organisational projects.

She is passionate about creating a gender-equal world and advocating for change and is driven to work with communities to alleviate them from disadvantage, oppression, and injustice. Emma believes in challenging the systems and structures that disempower, target, and marginalise communities, and it’s this drive that has led her to join the board and Centre for Non-Violence.

Emma is a member of the Australian Institute of Project Management and is currently completing her Graduate Certificate in Social Impact.

Meegan Stanley

Board Member

Meegan started her professional career eighteen years ago building her skills in the recruitment and business development industry. Meegan has been working in the not-for-profit sector for the past decade.

Meegan has specialised working alongside people who have experienced complex trauma, with a particular focus on sexual violence. Meegan is motivated to influence systemic change in this sector to ensure victim/survivors voices are heard and perpetrators are held to account to reduce re-offending and further victimisation.

Meegan has vast managerial experience, leading therapeutic teams and being part of executive management groups with a focus on innovation, growth and sustainable partnerships. Meegan values education and ongoing opportunities for learning having completed two psychology degrees and a master’s degree in clinical family therapy.

Tonye Segbedzi 

Board Member

Tonye is passionate about social justice and has 30 years’ experience in the legal and social policy sectors, including roles at Victoria Legal Aid, Department of Human Services and Australian Association of Gerontology. Her qualifications include Bachelors of Arts and Law, Graduate Certificate in Management and Master of Policy.

In 2014 Tonye was awarded a Victorian Women’s Governance Scholarship which enabled her to complete the Australian Institute of Company Directors course. Since then she has served on several not-for-profit boards, including Uniting Care Werribee, Flemington-Kensington Community Legal Centre and Women’s Health West.

Tonye moved to central Victoria in 2020, and proudly identifies as a person of colour and member of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Margaret Augerinos

Chief Executive Officer

Margaret Augerinos (B.SW) is a qualified Social Worker who has been working in the not-for-profit community services sector for the last 30 years.  Margaret has worked in many different settings including family counselling, community health, community legal services, and advocacy and rights organisations.

Margaret has served on a number of Boards and Committees over the years and is presently on the board of Safe and Equal, is the Victorian representative and Treasurer of the WESNET board and is on the board of the Global Network of Women’s Shelters.

Margaret has presented at many conferences nationally and internationally and has presented at side and parallel events at a number of sessions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Margaret is a passionate supporter of human rights and in ending gender-based violence against women.

Lauren Davies

Executive Manager – Corporate Services

Lauren’s responsibilities include leading the Corporate Services team, driving corporate services strategy, executing purposeful and targeted outcomes that reflect CNV vision, streamlining and integrating corporate processes and systems, and developing robust integrated management frameworks.

Lauren has significant leadership and management experience with more than 26 years in senior leadership roles within the Not-for-profit sector.  She has Diplomas in Governance, Financial Services, Human Resource Management and Management.

Yvette Jaczina 

Executive Manager – Programs & Services

Yvette is instrumental in establishing strong partnerships, delivery of services and practices that deliver positive outcomes for service users and the broader community, in line with the CNV strategic plan and feminist philosophy.  Starting her career as a social worker, Yvette has been working in the community sector since 2000.  Since then she has held senior strategic leadership positions in mental health, homelessness, youth services and family services.  She has a strong commitment to women’s and children’s safety and to women’s empowerment. 

Karen Andrews

Head of People & Culture 

Karen is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in Human Resources leadership roles. Her extensive background in HR consulting, coupled with her passion for leading and mentoring people, makes her the perfect fit for overseeing the human resources and wellbeing portfolios. Additionally, Karen has a deep understanding of HR governance, ensuring that all practices and policies are in line with industry standards. When she's not working, Karen enjoys indulging in her love for painting and can often be found tending to her garden or working on a creative project in her spare time.

Caity Robinson 

Head of Safety, Risk & Compliance

Caity is Head of Safety, Risk & Compliance at CNV. Caity supports the organisation to achieve meaningful impact and strategic objectives through leading CNV’s approach to safety, risk, quality and compliance. Caity is also responsible for CNV’s information technology, privacy and data protection, infrastructure and assets, Corporate Services administration, and front of house operations. 

Caity holds a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and Bachelor of International Relations and spent six years working in the federal government prior to transitioning to the not-for-profit sector. Caity is passionate about finding innovative approaches to support CNV to deliver safe, effective and streamlined service delivery across all programs. Caity is inspired by the work the organisation delivers, is driven by CNV’s collective vision, and wants to make the world a safer place for women and children to survive and thrive in.  

Caity loves spending time with her family and finds enjoyment in all the small things with them – from the toddler tea parties to camping trips and outdoor adventures.

Georgena Stuckenschmidt 

Head of Accounting & Finance

Georgena is a CPA and corporate services professional with 30 years’ experience in the NFP sector.

Having worked as Chief Financial Officer for St Luke’s (prior to a merger with Anglicare Victoria), managing St Luke’s Innovative Resources (Anglicare Vic publishing and training business), and serving in several financial, ICT and training roles in TAFE, community health, disability/NDIS and housing, Georgena has a wide understanding of the not-for-profit sector.

Georgena’s strengths are that she brings a strategic and leadership approach to her work and approaches change with excitement and promise. Georgena is a team player, and her aim is to develop and implement systems and processes that enable program workers to maximise the amount of time available to support CNV clients.

Georgena started with CNV as Head of Accounting and Finance in November 2022.

Sammy Bowden

Head of Diversity & Inclusion 

Sammy is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in community development and social justice. With a diploma in event management, community services, and project management, she has worked across various sectors, including local and state government, not-for-profit, and hospitality. 

In 2015, Sammy began working as a Community Development Officer in local government, where she discovered her passion for driving cultural, community, and systems change through the establishment of strong partnerships and collaborative efforts. She went on to work on the Royal Commission for Family Violence Recommendations as part of her work with the state government, demonstrating her commitment to addressing critical social issues.

 In 2021, Sammy joined CNV as a Project Worker within the Programs & Services division and quickly transitioned into the role of Head of Diversity & Inclusion in November 2022. Her unwavering dedication to social justice and driving positive change is fuelled by her two strong-willed pre-teen daughters and her desire to create a world where gender-based violence is no longer something women should fear.

Dr. Clare Shamier 

Head of Business Development & Advocacy

Dr Clare Shamier is Head of Business Development & Advocacy with CNV. She holds a PhD in International Politics and Communication from the University in Melbourne. 

Over the last 15 years, Clare has worked in a diverse range of settings from local to federal government departments, NGOs both in Australia and overseas and within the university sector as an academic. With a specialisation in development, international diplomacy and feminist economics, Clare has worked extensively as a consultant and researcher, advocating for gender and social equality by critically examining and making recommendations to development programs, social policies and law reforms with a feminist lens. Having published in various journals and books, over the years she is committed to the social change necessary that would see women and girls living in a world without violence. 

In her downtime, Clare loves to read and as a mother to three incredible and fierce young women and a baby, she also really loves the idea of a good night’s rest.

Robyn Trainor

Head of Strategy & Impact

Robyn is CNV’s Head of Strategy & Impact, and is a qualified social worker (BSW Hons), who is committed to working collaboratively and in partnership with individuals, communities and partners to evaluate outcomes, capture lived experience and evidence impact.

Robyn is passionate about keeping direct beneficiaries at the centre of everything we do and empowering individuals, communities and systems to influence and transform policy and practice approaches and influence social change. Robyn is committed to representing a diversity of lived experience and voices from the margins, these are most often the voices of people least considered, unheard or listened to.

She has a long history of working at CNV within a range of roles, including Senior Manager – Strategic Projects, General Manager - Prevention and Development and Regional Integration Coordinator (Loddon Family Violence Leadership group) to improve family violence service and system responses. Robyn has worked in as a Field Education Coordinator and Lecturer at La Trobe University in social work, health and education, and in a range of sectors, including sexual assault, disability and family services in policy and practice. Robyn is an experienced trainer and educator and has presented at many conferences nationally and internationally, including side and parallel events at United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

Robyn is passionate about human rights, social and gender equality and contributing to social change by challenging dominant systems, cultures and structures of inequality, oppression, violence and abuse.

Liz Cox

Senior Manager Intervention Programs 

Liz is a qualified social worker who is responsible for managing a range of programs including Women’s and Children’s Case Management Services and Men’s Services at CNV.  Liz has over 13 years’ experience in the community services sector in rural and regional Victoria and has worked in a variety of roles across family violence, homelessness, family services and therapeutic services with 10 years leadership experience in family violence response services.  Liz has a strong commitment to women and children’s safety and to systems reform to improve outcomes for women and children, particularly in regional and rural settings.

Jessica Reade 

Principal Practice Lead 

Jess has been a valued staff member at CNV for the past 10 years, holding various roles, including Intake and Case Management, Specialist Family Violence Practitioner, Advanced Family Violence Practice Lead, and Integrated Practice Lead within CNV Intervention Programs. Currently, she is serving as the Principal Practice Lead within Programs & Services.

As part of her responsibilities, Jess is responsible for developing and implementing key practice frameworks and guidelines that apply to all client programs. She ensures that the practice across all CNV services aligns with the standards, values, and philosophies of CNV, with a particular focus on the Intervention Programs stream. 

One of her primary functions is to align service delivery with CNV's Integrated model and guidelines, the Multi Agency Risk Assessment and Management Framework (MARAM), Family Violence and Child Information Sharing Schemes (FVIS and CIS) and develop tools and approaches that support these frameworks.

Jess is dedicated to advocating for women and children's rights and dismantling patriarchal structures. She values respecting the experiences of staff and clients to improve service delivery and empower individuals. Collaboration and effective communication are crucial to Jess's role, and she prioritises accountability and support in service delivery. As Principal Practice Lead, she leads and supports a team of practice leaders to support high level practice including focusing on championing the rights of children as victims of family violence and creates tailored interventions to prioritise their safety and reduce the ongoing effects of trauma.

Liz Wright

Senior Manager System Integration

Liz is the Senior Manager for System Integration with CNV, where she has held this leadership position for over two years. With a decade of experience working in local community services organisations within the region, Liz has fulfilled a variety of roles, including serving as Family Services Manager. Additionally, Liz has worked in a community services agency outside of the region, gaining valuable experience in direct client work.

In her current role, Liz is responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing a range of programs and initiatives that promote a coordinated and integrated broader system response to family violence. Liz works to ensure a consistent safety-led response to victim survivors and accountability for perpetrators of family violence; she is passionate about working in the field and has a strong commitment to family violence prevention. Liz enjoys working collaboratively with others to promote safety and a gendered understanding of family violence.