Our Board

Chairperson

Nick Thompson

Nick has been on the Board of DVAC since September 2016 and was elected Chairperson at the 2017 AGM. Since starting his career in Alice Springs, working for the Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit in 2007, Nick has worked in a variety of frontline and management roles supporting families and children experiencing adversity and violence. This has included working as CEO of the Aboriginal Family Legal Service Southern Queensland and as a caseworker with the Ipswich Intensive Family Support Service and as the Program Manager – Domestic and Family Violence with Relationships Australia, Queensland.

Nick is currently employed with Mates in Construction as an Industry Engagement Coordinator working with the construction industry to improve mental health and well-being and reduce rates of suicide in the construction industry. Nick holds a Bachelor of Social Science, Graduate Certificate in Facilitating Men’s Behaviour Change, a Master of Social Work and a Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Certificate from Harvard.

Nick is passionate about making sure that communities across Ipswich & the Darling Downs Regions have accessible and effective family violence prevention and support services and that confronting and challenging the cause and effect of gendered violence in the community is a continued strategic priority of the DVAC board.

Treasurer

Laura Marschke

Laura has been on the board of DVAC since 2017 in the Treasurer position. Laura has worked as a Senior Financial Adviser and has over 20 years of experience working in the financial services industry in both corporate and private practice.

Currently working in Financial Advice for Integrity Wealth, a multi-disciplinary practise, Laura is passionate about supporting the local community to improve financial literacy with a focus on raising awareness of financial abuse. Laura holds a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning, Self-Managed Super Fund and Aged Care Specialist Certification and has also completed the FASEA Financial Adviser exam.

Vice Chairperson

Robyn Forward

Robyn is a Social Worker, with 26 year’s experience with Qhealth West Moreton Hospital and Health Service Mental Health and Specialised Services. Robyn has a Bachelor of Social Work from Central Queensland University.

Most recently Robyn and co-authors were successful in being published in Australian Social Work Asking the Question: Childhood Sexual Abuse in Adults with Mental Illness.

Robyn has a long history of working collaboratively with the DVAC team.

Committee Member

Susan Klein

Susie Klein is a Jualaroi woman and is passionate about agencies offering culturally appropriate family violence services to First Nations families and communities.

Susie currently works for Catholic Care Social Services based in Roma as a family advisor for the family dispute resolution team, however is regularly across Darling Downs communities and Toowoomba in her work. Susie has spent many years working with families who have experienced trauma and is a trained Counsellor, mediator and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Education Studies and Cert 4 in assessment and training.

Susie is a professional artist and has pioneered an art for relaxation therapeutic workshop that promotes healing through creative and expressive arts.

Susie is excited about DVAC’s expansion onto the Darling Downs and wants to assist with improving relationships across the region and promoting violence prevention.

Committee Member

Debbie Render

Debbie joined the board of DVAC in 2019. Her professional background is in the veterinary industry where she has held a variety of roles over the past 30 years. In her capacity as practice manager of a group of clinics she was responsible for human resources, formulating and implementing policies and procedures and staff training.

Debbie currently works in a training capacity for a national organisation and thrives on helping others to achieve their potential. She also has a developing interest in the links between violence perpetrated on animals and domestic and family violence.

Committee Member

Sheryl Hale-Moores

Sheryl has been a government auditor for over 20 years.

During this time, she has worked across multiple areas of industry from individual to large business. With her unique experience across these industries she brings a broad skill set acquired whilst undertaking audits. Sheryl has always had a particular interest in understanding client behaviour and the various skills that can be utilised to effect change.

On leaving the Federal Government, Sheryl undertook the training program to become a Court Networker. The Court Network is a frontline community organisation which provides a free non-legal information and referral support service to accused parties, victims, witnesses, family and friends.

Sheryl currently volunteers with the Ipswich Victims of Crime support services which provides services for adult victims of crime and for related court matters in the Supreme and District Courts.

Sheryl holds a degree in Commerce, post graduate qualifications in Taxation Law and is a CPA.

Committee Member

Naomi Todd

Joining the DVAC Board in 2020, Naomi is a passionate people person, bringing her 25 years’ experience in the HR, people and culture space.

Her key value is in building inclusive cultures through transparency, authenticity, engagement and a human-centred design approach, enabling visibility and representation for all.

She has worked within the education, recruitment and startup worlds. In and around that, Naomi co-founded and recently exited an HR-Tech business.

Understanding that our community as a whole thrives through the engagement and inclusion of all its people, Naomi is also working on a number of community initiatives designed to break down barriers and provide for our most vulnerable people.