Dr. Jess Heerde is a National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leadership Fellow and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School, at the University of Melbourne. She has established, and leads, a program of research that highlights both drivers of homelessness and the health consequences of homelessness in young people. Her program of work focuses on the prevention of homelessness before its consequences for health, and the social and individual assets that underpin health across the later life-course, arise.

Stephen Nash became CEO of Kids Under Cover in December 2021 after being a founder and CEO of homelessness and community housing organisations for the past 25 years in Victoria. Stephen has formed local, national and international alliances and partnerships to innovate and advocate and he has led campaigns to trial new solutions to homelessness. Stephen has been invited to be a member of Ministerial Advisory Committees on homelessness and housing and elected by his peers to serve on national and state peak body boards.

Catherine Robinson is an Australian academic, sociologist and social justice activist. She has a long-held commitment to qualitative research and advocacy in the areas of homelessness, complex trauma and social care. Catherine is also known for her work with Blackfella Films as Series Consultant and Co-Host of the SBS documentary Filthy Rich and Homeless and she is a Board Director of Homelessness Australia. Catherine is currently Associate Professor in Housing and Communities, School of Social Sciences, UTAS where she is also UTAS Centre Director for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. Her recent work focuses on understanding the experiences and support system needs of children and young people who experience high vulnerability, including unaccompanied homelessness and mental ill-health.

Elvis Martin is a social justice advocate who has managed to overcome very difficult circumstances and inspire many with his advocacy for social justice. The recipient of awards such as National young Community Achiver of the year. Elvis has worked, volunteered and spoken publicly in many roles, addressing mental health, homelessness, family violence and LGBTIQA+ community issues. Currently Elvis as Principal Ambassador of Youth Development Australia, government LGBTIQ taskforce member and on the Board of VMIAC. He uses his platform, including a large social media following, to promote inclusion, diversity and equality for all.

Pam Barker is the CEO of Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) which works to support homeless and vulnerable young people, and their children, to secure and maintain housing, address physical and mental health issues, establish successful relationships and support networks, and access pathways to education and employment. Prior to commencing with BYS, Pam was the CEO of Yfoundations, the New South Wales peak body representing young people at risk and experiencing homelessness, and before that, the CEO of Open Doors Youth Service, Queensland’s LGBTIQA+ youth service supporting children and young people aged 12–24 years. She is passionate about investing in our next generation of leaders and advocating for meaningful solutions to support them to flourish.

Pam has advocated for change in policy reform at both state and federal government levels partnering with stakeholders to affect change across Queensland for LGBTIQA+ Youth. She also sits on the board of My Foundations Youth Housing, Homelessness Australia (HA), Vanguard End Street Sleeping Collaboration (ESSC), is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Psychology, and is currently undertaking postgraduate study in Clinical Psychology.

Trish Connolly is the CEO of Yfoundations. She has an extensive background in homelessness and domestic abuse policy, research service design, and service system reform in both the Australian and UK contexts. She has worked across a broad range of sectors, including the NSW State Government, UK Government, peak bodies, non-government/frontline service providers and charities. Trish was also a member of the Yfoundations Board in 2014–15 to provide expertise on impacts and best practice approaches for young people experiencing domestic and family violence.

Prior to joining Yfoundations, Trish worked in a service delivery capacity in the community housing sector. Trish is passionate about working in the youth homelessness sector, strongly committed to ending homelessness, and focused on developing a systemic approach to address the fundamental issues that contribute to youth homelessness.

Keith Waters has worked in the youth homelessness sector for over 30 years. He has held Executive positions with Anglicare in NSW and the ACT as well as the Salvation Army in Melbourne, Victoria. He has experience across a wide range of areas including youth, drug and alcohol, housing and homelessness, crisis services, OoHC and child protection, family violence, prisons and courts, disability services, child care, aged care, primary health care and juvenile justice

In addition to being a leading NGO Executive, he has pioneered numerous innovative programs for disadvantaged young people over the past 30 years and has been an advocate, author and co-author of a number of landmark reports which have impacted youth policy. He is currently the Executive Officer of both YDA and the National Youth Commission.