Our Board

The WESNET Board is comprised of women who volunteer their time and expertise to further our work in the sector to eliminate violence against women.

Amie Carrington

National Chair

Queensland

Leanne Barron

DEPUTY Chair

Western Australia

Margaret Augerinos

 Treasurer

Victoria

Elise Phillips

MEMBER

New South Wales

Angie Piubello

SECRETARY

Australian Capital Territory

Jo Gamble

MEMBER

Northern Territory

Mary Leaker

MEMBER

South Australia

Di Burton headshot

Diane Burton

MEMBER

Tasmania

Julie Oberin AM

MEMBER

Diversity

The Board comprises representatives from all States and Territories, with up to 3 Board positions offered to women identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, intersex, queer woman, or woman from other diverse sexual orientation or gender diversity, women with disabilities, older women, younger women, and women from rural and regional Australia. Members can contact their representatives and seek assistance on state and national policy matters, funding issues and opportunities, and any other matters affecting your work preventing and responding to domestic and family violence.

Our CEO

Karen Bentley

CEO

Karen Bentley, is the CEO of WESNET, the national peak body for specialist women's domestic and family violence services. Karen has worked across the Violence Against Women sector since 1997 as a senior executive in the Australian Public Service, as a consultant, in women's and community health services and in WESNET. Always a tech enthusiast and strong anti-violence advocate, Karen has a particular interest in the intersection of technology and Violence Against Women, and is regularly called upon to provide advice to governments, policy makers and technology companies. Karen has trained thousands of frontline workers and other professionals about technology safety and is a co-founder of the Safety Net Australia project. Karen has a BSc(Hons) from ANU and began her career as a scientist before joining the Australian Public Service where she worked across several agencies. She has also worked as a consultant to numerous non-government organisations and in leadership positions in the health sector. She is passionate about ensuring gender equality and ending violence.