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.

Professor Elena Marchetti - Deputy Chair

Elena is a Professor of Law in the Griffith Law School and the co-Director of the Disrupting Violence Beacon, a strategic research initiative at Griffith University. Her research focuses on sentencing processes, the justice experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, access to justice for marginalised groups, and legal reform in domestic and family violence. Elena is a member of the Australian Research Council College of Experts, Queensland Patron of the Justice Reform Initiative, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Criminology. Elena's research has been supported by two highly competitive Australian Research Council Fellowships. The first examined the impact of using Indigenous sentencing courts for partner violence offending. The second investigated how to better evaluate Indigenous-focused criminal justice programs. One of Elena's current research projects examines the use of Indigenous justice reports in criminal sentencing hearings.

Jo Bryant

Jo is currently a Certified Marriage Celebrant, following a distinguished career in child protection. She remains a dedicated Board Member of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. From 2019 to 2021, Jo served as the Regional Visiting Manager for the Sunshine Coast within the Office of the Public Guardian. In this role, she managed a team of local Community Visitors, advocating on behalf of vulnerable children and young people in care and adults with impaired capacity. Previously, Jo was the CEO of Protect All Children Today Inc. (August 2004 to July 2019). This not-for-profit organisation provides vital support to children and young people aged 3–17 who are required to give evidence in criminal court hearings as victims or witnesses of crime. Throughout her career, Jo has consistently championed the rights of vulnerable people and has been instrumental in driving positive change through evidence-based feedback.

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.

Debbie Kilroy OAM

Debbie is a leading advocate for women and girls in the justice system. She founded Sisters Inside and Kilroy & Callaghan Lawyers, driven by her own experience of being criminalised at the age of 13 and spending over two decades in and out of prisons. An unapologetic abolitionist, Debbie's work focuses on dismantling the Prison Industrial Complex. She believes in centering the voices and experiences of incarcerated women and girls and has established the National Network of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls to advocate for justice reform.

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.

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.

Dan Rogers

Dan is a Principal at Robertson O'Gorman Solicitors, a leading private criminal defence firm. He is a Queensland Law Society accredited criminal law specialist and represents clients as a Solicitor-Advocate in all Queensland courts. His expertise is recognised in various legal publications, where he has contributed articles on criminal law. Beyond his private practice, Dan is deeply committed to community service. He serves on the Management Committee (formerly as President) of Caxton Community Legal Centre, an organisation that provides crucial support to vulnerable individuals navigating the criminal justice system. He is also a member and former Chair of the Queensland Law Society Human Rights and Public Law Committee.

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.

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