About Next Steps Australia

Bernadette Blair

CHAIRMAN

Bernadette is a founding board member of Next Steps Australia and its chairperson.
Next Steps Australia is founded on Bernadette’s vision and drive to make an important and practical difference to the lives of families affected by family violence.

Bernadette is the principal of interior design company, Dramatique Design. She is also a director of the Acclaim Awards, a charity focused on providing unique training programmes in Australia and Italy for young Australian opera singers.

Prior to her involvement in the private sector, Bernadette was active within Catholic Education in Melbourne and Canberra, as a teacher, lecturer and school principal. She has also sat on the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Melbourne.

In her role at Next Steps Australia, Bernadette brings her vision and passion, and years of experience as a senior administrator and charity board member.

Julia Cameron

BOARD MEMBER

Julia is a founding board member of Next Steps Australia.

Julia is a lawyer, specialising in Corporate and Intellectual Property law. She advises a diverse local and international client base and draws on that experience to provide legal and commercial advice to Next Steps Australia.

She is a graduate of La Trobe University with degrees in Law and Media Studies (Journalism). In her professional capacity, Julia is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Victorian Women Lawyers and the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Julia is also an Advisory Committee Member of the Additive Manufacturing Hub, an initiative led by the Australian Manufacturing Technology and supported by the Victorian Government, to develop additive manufacturing capability in this sector in Australia.

Anneke Engwerda

BOARD MEMBER

Anneke is a founding board member of Next Steps Australia.

She is a graduate of Melbourne University specialising in General Paediatrics and Neonatology. Anneke has also undertaken research in paediatric anaesthesia.

During her medical training, Anneke participated in work experience at Lakeside Hospital Bangalore, India, in the Paediatrics Department.

She was involved in both inpatient and outpatient management as well as conducting a polio vaccine program and prisoner medical reviews.

In 2019 Anneke also served as a Junior Medical Officer Representative of the Royal Children’s Hospital, Family Violence Committee which afforded Anneke a deeper insight into the effects of family violence in the community.

Eamonn Kelly

BOARD MEMBER

Eamonn is a barrister having previously worked in the areas of academic research and teaching, management, journalism, design, marketing, and fundraising.

He has served as a board member and auditor for a wide range of cultural and social organisations and government agencies. He has received a number of industry awards, including an Australian Leadership Award from the Australian Davos Connection and a fellowship with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Alongside his legal qualifications, Eamonn holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, as well as management and research masters’ qualifications and has first class honours bachelor degrees in Arts’ and Music from the University of Melbourne.

Eamonn brings skills in advocacy, governance and organisational management to his role at Next Steps Australia.

Wayne Panton

BOARD MEMBER

Wayne Panton is a graduate of Massey University (NZ) with a post graduate degree of Master of Business Administration.

Wayne has extensive experience in the stockbroking, wealth management and banking sectors and is highly skilled in business transformation, business architecture, IT and management.

Over the last 20 years, he has held a number of senior management roles at Goldman Sachs, JBWere and the National Australia Bank.

His extensive experience in leading operations and technology teams within the financial services sector has seen him successfully deliver client-focused outcomes, centred in the areas of software application development, business architecture, cash equity broking, managed funds, margin lending and custodial services.

Wayne currently holds the position of CEO of the Plutas Group.

He is currently the Treasurer of Next Steps Australia and a director of the Acclaim Awards Ltd in the position of Treasurer and Secretary.

Scott Reinke

BOARD MEMBER

Scott Reinke is a graduate of Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He is a highly experienced strategist and marketer and has been a senior marketing executive of some of Australia’s top 50 companies including Medibank Private, Commonwealth Bank, Bank of Melbourne, ANZ Bank and NEC.

Scott has been a marketing consultant to the Communications and Energy sector.

For the past fifteen years Scott has run his own company which supplies uniforms and branded merchandise to government and corporates.

Scott is a member of a number of charity boards. He was Chairman of HeartKids Victoria for seven years and Director of HeartKids Australia for six years. He is currently Chairman of the Acclaim Awards.

Raj Subramanian

BOARD MEMBER

Raj has qualifications in engineering and is the Principal of Abi Printing and Crystal Solar Energy.

He has worked in the field of power generation, off-shore oil, gas production and high-speed elevators, procuring two international patents during his career. Raj is currently engaged in design, development and implementation of solar battery storage.

Raj undertakes all print design work for Next Steps Australia.

He is also a founding board member of Next Steps Australia.

Paula Westhead

BOARD MEMBER

Paula has over 25 years experience in the child and family services sector. She has worked with the Safe and Equal Implementation Champions Group and the Specialist Family Violence Leadership Group. Paula was a previous Chair of the Bayside Peninsula Integrated Family Violence Partnership and a member of the inaugural Kingston Council Family Violence Working Group.

Paula was named joint Kingston Woman of the Year for 2022 while Executive Officer of Emerge women and children’s support network, where she worked for seven and half years assisting women and children fleeing family violence. She completed research projects with LaTrobe and Swinburne Universities re the effect of family violence on children under three years and the use of robots in therapeutic groupwork for primary school aged children.

Paula is an accredited Family Law mediator and supervisor, a qualified Family Therapist and has a Certificate in Training and Assessment. She completed the Diploma of Governance in 2021 and looks forward to her work on the board of Next Steps Australia.

Charmaine Bacon

Charmaine works as an administrator for Next Steps Australia.

Charmaine worked initially as a private nanny for many Melbourne based families and travelled extensively overseas in that role for over twenty-five years. She then transitioned to estate management overseeing the day to day running, maintenance and upkeep of large suburban properties.

Charmaine has been interested in supporting the survivors of domestic violence and is using her extensive management and administrative skills to assist with the Queensland refuges that Next Steps Australia supports with the donation of manchester packs for mothers and children.

Lyndal Barrington

Lyndal is an administrator and research support for Next Steps Australia.

Lyndal began her career as a registered nurse working in the Emergency Departments of both major and rural hospitals in Sydney and Orange.

In these environments Lyndall first came into contact with cases of domestic and family violence.

Since relocating to Melbourne Lyndal has been working as an administrator for a private medical practice for over 20 years.

Lyndal is a member of the Camberwell Grammar Foundation Board which encourages the financial support of the local community.

Felicity Cadwallader

Felicity is a Senior Associate at Hall & Wilcox with 15 years experience in Energy and Resources and Corporate Law. She has a bachelor of Arts and Law degrees from the Australian National University.

Felicity is committed to supporting other women and their children to lead happy and safe lives and is pleased to assist Next Steps Australia in helping to achieve this.

Felicity supports Next Steps Australia by managing its’ grant applications.

Kimbal Dunsmore

Kimbal is the New South Wales Administrator for Next Steps Australia.

He served as an officer in the Royal Australian Navy for thirty years and then more recently as a consultant to the Ministry of Defence. During his long career with the Navy Kimbal served in many seagoing positions including command of a warship, shore-based staff positions as well as representational positions overseas.

In the naval environment Kimbal was responsible for the welfare of the officers and sailors under his command. As a result he came into direct contact with cases of domestic and family violence involving Naval personnel.

As a veteran himself, Kimbal is actively involved with a Sydney based program (Alfred’s Community Sailing) supporting veterans and others with trauma, particularly first responders such as police, paramedics, and firefighters. He is also a member of his local sub-branch of the RSL.

Kendell Farley

Kendell is a consultant to the Next Steps Australia.

Kendell is an operations and transformation professional with over 18 years experience across a range of industries including financial services, technology and education.

Most recently Kendell lead the operations and service delivery capability of a high growth NASDAQ listed company’s expansion in Japan, South-East Asia and Australia.

Prior to this, Kendell has worked in London, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney and Melbourne, delivering organisational transformation, Mergers and Acquisitions integration programs and establishing scalable new business operations.

Kendell holds a Masters of Business Administration, a Masters of Project Management and a Bachelor of Finance.

Sandra Greaves

Sandra provides administrative support for Western Australia and South Australia.

Sandra worked for many years in Special Education in Primary and Secondary schools and in voluntary leadership roles in an associated professional organisation.

Sandra’s involvement with Next Steps Australia arose from working with many children and families over the years and having a deep insight into the importance of readily accessible resources.

Sandra holds a Dip Teach (Primary), Grad. Dip. Special Education., B. Ed. (Melb.) M Ed. (Melb).

David Jones

David is a financial administrator and researcher for Next Steps Australia.

David has more than forty years experience in creating, growing and managing businesses in the field of information technology, including software development, and human resources.

David is currently a director and consultant to businesses in the Corporate Advisory field and Distribution and Export sector.

David has a particular strength in finance systems and governance processes.

David has held directorships on the boards of Vision Australia, Mentone Girls Grammer School and the Acclaim Awards.

Rhonda Moore

Rhonda, supported by her husband Neil, has been supporting Next Steps Australia since February, 2021.

During that time they have enrolled other donors and volunteers from the Mornington Peninsula to support mothers and their children in establishing new homes after escaping domestic violence.

Rhonda’s team have compiled hundreds of manchester starter packs and now concentrate on children’s back packs which are distributed to refuges at Christmas. The backpacks cover ages new-born to 12 year olds.

A group of five ladies assist Rhonda and Neil to assemble the backpacks which contain clothing, toiletries, activity books, story books, a toy, and a teddy. Rhonda and the team spend an enormous amount of thought and effort in making these gifts a source of joy for children at Christmas.

Lisa Nicholson

Lisa has worked at Spotlight for 24 years as a department and operations manager. She is involved in staff training and development, administration and team supervision.

Lisa has been associated with Next Steps Australia since 2017 supervising the packing and processing of the Manchester Starter Boxes as well as liaising with transport companies in delivering the boxes to refuges around Australia.

Lisa also collaborates with Spotlight department managers in Western Australia and Queensland to ensure the smooth processing and delivery of the manchester packs in those states.

Lisa is also the project manager for the Next Steps Australia’s Future Steps programme involving the administration, packing, processing and delivery of the relationship boxes to many rural refuges in Victoria.

Nicola O’Connor

Nicola is a small business owner and proprietor of Kinderplay Playthings, an educational toyshop that has been based in Melbourne for over 45 years.

With 20 years experience in the Toy Industry she brings her expertise in selecting products that will help children explore their environment, and allow them to develop emotional and social intelligence.

Nicola focuses on choosing age appropriate educational toys which challenge children’s minds by promoting cognitive development, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Nicola is pleased to have the opportunity to work with Next Steps Australia to source and curate the items for the Future Steps boxes.

Nicola has a bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne.

Suzi Ralph

Suzi is a dedicated and innovative business professional, specialising in organisational development, human resources, and business consulting.

With over 20 years of diverse experience, she has held national roles across industries ranging from retail to manufacturing, working with both large corporations and small businesses, including not-for-profit and multi-national companies.

Driven by a deep passion for helping others, Suzi is especially interested in supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence.

She strives to make a positive impact on their lives and those she collaborates with, embodying her commitment to fostering meaningful change.

Lauri Reid

Lauri is a senior associate at Hall and Wilcox and a board consultant and company secretary to Next Steps Australia.

She has worked in the legal sector for over 15 years in a range of positions and has degrees in Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Criminology and is presently undertaking a Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne.

Lauri has previously worked in the Family Violence Court Division of the Magistrates Court of Victoria and has had first-hand exposure to the devastation that family violence can cause.

Lauri has come to Next Steps with a keen interest in Australia’s ability to provide safe spaces for women and children escaping domestic violence and a desire to assist a charity that supports those safe spaces.

Carla Thomas

Carla is a senior commercial knowledge lawyer with Hall & Wilcox’s national legal excellence and risk team. She has a bachelor of Arts and Laws from the University of Melbourne. Carla brings almost 20 years of legal and writing experience to Next Steps Australia, together with a drive to use her skills for social purpose.

She is inspired by the powerful simplicity of Next Steps Australia’s mission to empower women and their children to make a new start in safety, comfort and dignity.

Carla is a proud member of Next Steps Australia’s marketing and media committee. She also assists with grant applications and edits Next Steps Australia’s newsletter.