Bernadette Blair
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 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
Julia is a founding Board Member of Next Steps Australia.
Julia is a Partner at Rigby Cooke Lawyers, 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 the manufacturing sector in Australia.
Dr Anneke Engwerda
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.
Anneke has 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.
Paula Westhead
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.
Dr. Eamonn Kelly
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
Wayne Panton is a graduate of Massey University (NZ) with a post graduate degree of Master of Business Administration.
Wayne has a great deal of 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 Plutas Group Pty Ltd.
He is the Treasurer of Next Steps Australia and a director of the Acclaim Awards Ltd in the position of Treasurer and Secretary.
Scott Reinke
Scott Reinke is a graduate of Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Arts.
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 also 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 has also been 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
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 and 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.