Over recent months, Queen Victoria Women's Centre has been pleased to welcome new Trustees.

Catherine Brown, Chair

Catherine is Deputy Chair of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, a Director of Barkindji Biosphere and a former Chair of ACROD Victoria. She has consulted in philanthropy and not-for-profit governance for a range of organisations including the Myer Foundation, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, the Australian Association of Principals Professional Development Council, the United Nations University, Reconciliation Victoria and ANZ Trustees.

Catherine is also the former CEO of the Brain Foundation and the Jean Hailes Foundation, Director of Legal and Public Relations with Wesley Mission Melbourne, and Solicitor and Government Relations Manager with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Victoria. Prior to this, she was in private legal practice in London and Melbourne.

Laurie Bebbington

Laurie commenced her career as the inaugural National Women’s Officer for the Australian Union of Students in 1975, the International Women’s Year. She subsequently became a researcher and adviser to Senator Gareth Evans and then an industrial officer for the Australian Social Welfare Union, before joining the Victorian Department of Labour in 1984. She has spent the last two decades of her career in the Victorian government in both central and line agencies, in the industrial/employee relations and OH&S arena and more recently in mental health and drug and alcohol operational and key change management roles within the Department of Human Services. In 2006, she was appointed the Commissioner for Law Enforcement Data Security (CLEDS).

Laurie's substantial management experience covers financial and asset management, IT and operations and leadership of major change processes.

Michelle Beveridge

Michelle is a seasoned ICT professional with a strong strategic focus, a track record of delivery and high level skills in change management. As a result she has recently been appointed as Chief Information Officer for IDP Education Pty Ltd - a global company offering student recruiting and testing services around the globe. IDP is part-owned by 38 prestigious universities in Australia and represents all education sectors. Michelle holds an MBA qualification from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) and is a Certified Practising Accountant and acts as Treasurer of the Victorian ICT for Women Network.

Tamara Brezzi

Setting high standards of excellence and achieving them with integrity and a keen empathy for her client’s commercial position are some of the hallmarks of Tamara’s approach to practice. A qualified town planner, relaxed and personable, Tamara is passionate about her chosen field of expertise. She takes the view that failure is not an option and that the best results often emerge from creative solutions.

Tamara practises in all aspects of planning law including major project developments, commercial and residential planning projects and local government work. She has appeared in planning appeals at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and planning scheme amendments at Planning Panels Victoria.

Janet Wood

Janet was educated at Ballarat High School and Melbourne University, with degrees in arts, education and theology. She has worked in education, administration and, until retirement in January 2006, was a Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal and the Migration Review Tribunal. She has lived in the USA, and three Australian states.

Janet has served in a voluntary capacity to undertake advocacy and other activities in areas involving Indigenous people, migrants and refugees within Australia. Included in this work was membership of the Multicultural Commission of S.A., of the ATSIC Committee for the International Year of Indigenous Peoples and chairing the Australian Council of Churches Committee on Migration and Refugees. Associated interests led to work in the area of overseas aid, including holding office in the UNAA and the Australian Council for Overseas Aid. Janet has also chaired Lifeline Canberra and was a member of Lifeline’s National Board.