Kait McNamara
Kait’s varied work roles have enabled her to work with children affected by a variety of social, psychological, developmental, and cognitive issues. More recently, she has applied her experience in working with children to the development of child protection policy for several government departments. Her interests include the cultural considerations involved in service and policy delivery, as well as the translation of empirical research outcomes into tangible policy and practice.
Jacqui Jashari
Jacqui has over sixteen years’ experience in the sport and recreation sector and state government with a strong level of governance and strategy consulting to State Sporting Associations and Peak Bodies Chief Executive Officers and boards. Jacqui has been a Commissioner on the Combat Sports Commission for 6 years.
Jacqui has demonstrated skills in project management, risk and finance, operational planning and community engagement with the ability to lead teams and support the delivery of strategic outcomes. Key projects managed and implemented include the statewide KidSport voucher program, the establishment of WestCycle, development of the funding and assessment process for sports and managing the delivery of key industry education and training for the sector, in particular opportunities for women to access professional development.
As an International and All Australian netball umpire Jacqui has officiated at the highest level in the world including Commonwealth Games and World Cups. Contributing to the development and coaching of international, state and community umpires provides an opportunity to still be involved in the sport of netball at all levels.
Alexa Wilkins
Alexa works in the Child Safeguarding Implementation Unit at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport. She leads the Unit’s work to implement child safe reforms, including the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, across CITS and supports the sport and recreation and Office of Multicultural Interests business areas to assist their sectors to embed child safe practices. Prior to working at CITS, Alexa held positions at the Commissioner for Children and Young People, consulting with children in communities across WA to ensure their views are heard by government, and at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet developing strategic policy advice to support implementation of recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Audrey Lee
Audrey Lee is General Manager of the Royal Commission Implementation Team at the Department of Communities.
She has extensive experience working in the human services sector, commencing her career as a child protection practitioner in metropolitan and regional areas, before moving to strategic policy and leadership roles.
Audrey enjoys working collaboratively with the non-government sectors and all levels of government to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes for children, young people and their families and communities.
Rebecca Hicks
Rebecca Hicks is the Policy Officer, Community at the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA). Rebecca’s portfolios cover Early Years, Children and Youth, Recreational Activities, Community Safety and Equity. Rebecca provides policy advice to Local Governments and represents Local Government interests in policy and legislative issues at a Commonwealth and State level.
Prior to WALGA, Rebecca was a Community Development Officer at a Local Government, covering Sport and Recreation, Volunteering and Youth portfolios. Rebecca has a double major undergraduate degree in Politics and International Relations, and History, and a Master’s degree in international development.
Helen Shields
Helen has over 10 years’ sport development experience within Local Government, National and State sporting bodies as well as a proven track record in youth engagement, club development, education and inclusion. She has experience of managing a multi-disciplinary team and a passion for leadership and volunteer management.
Lisa Purves
Lisa joined Sport Integrity Australia in 2023 and currently heads up the agency’s safeguarding unit.
A forward-thinking, passionate leader in her field, Lisa is responsible for the development of national safeguarding policies, resources and education to build the capacity of sporting organisations and individuals to provide safe sporting environments.
Lisa advocates for change to the culture, structure and governance practices nationally in the wake of the Royal Commission’s findings of abuse in more than 4,000 institutions.
She believes applying the child safe standards and implementing policies that keep children safe requires strong leaders with clear vision and a culture change from the whole community.
Previously, at the NSW Office of Children’s Guardian, Lisa was responsible for building the capability of organisations who work with children to implement the Child Safe Standards. She was also part of the team that implemented the Child Safe Standards in NSW and developed and administered the WWCC legislation in NSW, the first online system in Australia and the first to do continuous monitoring.
Her expertise includes developing community engagement strategies to build the capability of organisations who work with children to apply the legislative scheme, specifically to understand how children can be harmed and what they can do to prevent it. She is also a member of SportWest’s Child Safeguarding Advisory Group.
Jacqueline McGowan-Jones
The Commissioner works closely with children and young people, their families, community and government to make WA a better place for people under 18 years of age.
The Commissioner undertakes projects, commissions research, publishes reports, and hosts events to highlight specific aspects of children and young people’s wellbeing. Using research and the other evidence available, the Commissioner seeks to positively influence legislation, policy, services and attitudes.
Jacqueline McGowan-Jones is the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA. She was appointed for a 5-year term commencing January 2022.
Helen McShane
Helen Mc Shane is a sport integrity specialist, focussed on facilitating and supporting safe environments for children and young people, in the pursuit of every child having the opportunity to not only feel safe, but to be safe. Her 20-year international career spans both government and the not-for-profit sector working across strategic policy, legislation review and implementation, and the advance of sport integrity. Helen has held roles in Western Australia with the Department of Communities; SportWest; Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries; and has recently joined Sport Integrity Australia as the first WA State Integrity Manager. Helen also holds a Master of Business (Sport Management), has been a Board Director and is trained as a mediator.