The Honourable Ann Lyons AM - Chair

Ann Lyons is a graduate of The University of Queensland—Bachelor of Laws (1977) and Queensland University of Technology—Master of Laws (1997). On 2 February 1977, she was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and continued to work at Macrossan Byrne & Co. As a solicitor, Ann practised principally in criminal law and civil litigation. She was a tutor (1978–1980) and then lecturer (1980–86) in constitutional law and contract at the Queensland University of Technology's Law School and Built Environment School. She worked from 1987 to 1994 with the Queensland Law Society and became an accredited mediator in 1993.

Ann also worked as an anti-discrimination lawyer with Queensland Rail, was a legal member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (1995–2001) and a legal member of the Panel of Assessors under the Health Practitioners (Professional Standards) Act 1999 (Qld) (2000–05). She was appointed as the inaugural president of the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal (2000–06).

The Women Lawyers Association of Queensland named Ann their Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2004 in acknowledgement of her contributions to the Queensland legal profession. Ann has held a number of positions in various professional and charitable organisations including: canon lawyer and assistant judge, Brisbane Catholic Archdiocesan Matrimonial Tribunal (1984–1994); member and later chair, Brisbane Archdiocesan Communications Commission (1990–94); member and later chair of the Loreto College School Council (1990–97); member, Mater Private Hospital Research Ethics Committee (1998–2001); executive member, Council of the Australasian Tribunals (COAT) and convenor of the Queensland chapter (2006); member, Churchill Fellowship Queensland Selection Committee (2008–2016), member, Advisory Committee QUT Law School; member, Loreto Ministries (2015–18) member, Supreme and Federal Court Judges' Conference Committee (2012–18), and member, Legal Profession Breakfast Committee (2017-2021).

Ann was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2006 and was appointed Senior Judge Administrator (SJA) in 2017. She previously held positions on the court as the Criminal Listings Judge, member of the Mental Health Court (2008–2011), president of the Mental Health Court (2011–14) and chaired a number of court committees.

Kristy Bell

Danielle Carroll

Danielle is a leading advocate for secondary victims of domestic and family violence and the Managing Director and founder of the Kelly Wilkinson Foundation. Danielle established the Foundation following the tragic murder of her sister Kelly Wilkinson due to domestic violence, leaving Danielle to raise Kelly’s children. Danielle has a deep commitment to social justice and community support, established to ensure systemic change and that no one feels alone or unsupported in the wake of tragedy. She is recognised for her compassionate leadership, tireless advocacy, and ability to unite community partners, governments, and service providers around a shared mission.

Nathan Crane

Julie Dick SC

Julie is currently involved in various roles within the Queensland legal system. She chairs the Forensic Science Queensland Advisory Panel and is also a sessional member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. She has also led a review of Queensland's serious and organised crime laws. Previously, Julie served as a judge in Queensland courts. She was a District Court judge for over two decades, a judge on the Children's Court, including a term as President, and acted as a Supreme Court judge.

Matt Jackson

Matt is a barrister specialising in criminal and regulatory law. He holds a Master of Laws from QUT, with his thesis exploring the intersection of sentencing reforms for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). He has a keen interest in human rights and discrimination law. Matt was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2016, as a Solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 2018, and as a Barrister for the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2018.

Scott Lynch

Scott brings decades of experience practising in the criminal jurisdiction across Queensland. He was admitted as solicitor in 1988 before being called to the Bar in 1997. Scott initially established chambers in Toowoomba, where he maintained a broad general practice, including criminal, family, industrial, succession and family maintenance claims, as well as providing personal injury advice.

In 2002, Scott moved to Brisbane but has continued to represent clients throughout regional Queensland, frequently appearing in Central and Northern Queensland. In addition to his legal practice, Scott is a regular presenter at various law conferences held throughout the year, sharing his extensive knowledge and expertise with the legal community.

Sherrie Meyer

Sherrie is the Chair of the Board of Management at the Queensland Homicide Victims' Support Group (QHVSG). Driven by the tragic loss of her son in 1993, she became a founding member of QHVSG. A highly experienced mental health professional, Sherrie is an accredited social worker specialising in child trauma counselling. She has also served as a victim support case manager, child safety support officer, and domestic and family violence support worker.

Natalie Merlehan

Beck  O'Connor

Beck O’Connor is the Victims’ Commissioner for Queensland. Before assuming this role, she served as Chief Executive Officer for DVConnect, a leading organisation in domestic and family violence support. At DVConnect, she oversaw a range of services, including crisis response, sexual assault helplines, support for men, and forensic support. Beck also led the implementation of VictimConnect, a 24/7 statewide support service for victims of violent crime. Recognising her expertise and lived experience as a victim of crime, Beck has been appointed to key leadership positions. She was the Co-Chair of the Independent Ministerial Advisory Council and a founding member of the National Lived Experience Advisory Council for the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission. Through these roles, Beck ensures that the perspectives of victim survivors are central to both Queensland and Commonwealth government strategies to combat violence. Beck is a dedicated advocate for LGBTQIA+ victim survivors. She co-founded the LGBTQ+ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, where she also served as Deputy Managing-Director, and has been instrumental in enhancing visibility and support for this community. As Queensland’s first Victims’ Commissioner, Beck is committed to supporting the recovery, justice, and dignity of all people impacted by crime. She works closely with community groups, government agencies, and cultural leaders to build a stronger support system for victim survivors.

Brett Schafferius

Brett is the Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Far Northern Region, based in Cairns. He oversees policing operations in one of the state's most dynamic and challenging regions, encompassing diverse communities across the Torres Strait and Cape York. Brett brings extensive policing experience to this role, with a particular focus on criminal investigations. He has worked in various locations throughout regional Queensland, leading numerous successful investigations into serious crime. Brett holds a postgraduate qualification from Charles Sturt University and the Australian Institute of Police Management.

Thelma Schwartz

Thelma is the Principal Legal Officer of Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation providing legal and non-legal support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims and survivors of family violence and sexual assault. She was previously a member of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

Thelma has worked extensively with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, providing legal services and legal representation as a criminal defence solicitor with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service for over nine years.

Thelma identifies as of Torres Strait Islander heritage alongside her German/Samoan and Papua New Guinean heritage.

Douglas  Wilson

Doug Wilson was called to the Bar in 2007 after graduating with an Honours degree in Law from the Queensland University of Technology. Following a year as a Judge’s Associate, he began his practice at the private Bar in Queensland, where he remains today.

He specialises in criminal law, focusing on trial and appellant work in the Supreme and District Courts of Queensland. Known to be an accomplished cross-examiner, he is frequently sought after to represent high profile individuals, including politicians, police officers, lawyers, organised crime identities to represent them for all types of criminal offences.

Doug is also briefed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute trials and sentences in both the District and Supreme Courts.

He is an active member of the Queensland Bar Association, having been on the New Bar Committee and the Criminal Law Committee in recent years. He volunteers his time to judge students undertaking their mock court hearings on the Bar Practice Course.

Earlier in his career, Doug was a sessional academic at the QUT teaching criminal law and evidence law.

April Chrzanowski - Director

April is the Director of the Secretariat of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, and has unique expertise in law, criminology and mathematics.

Having worked in the private legal profession, the university sector, and within Queensland government, she has applied experience in criminal justice policy, evaluation, research, and teaching.

April is deeply passionate about evidence-based justice policy.

John Robertson

June 2018 - August 2023

James Morton

November 2016 – May 2017