With over a decade of experience across the government and non-profit sectors in Australia and the UK, Ben has dedicated his career to ensuring that local organisations have the resources and agency they need to support their communities during times of crisis. In recent leadership roles at the NSW Reconstruction Authority and the British Red Cross, Ben has led complex disaster recovery operations and overseen state-wide, multi-million-dollar recovery programs. As Director for the CODA Project, Ben is focused on driving scalable, high-impact disaster adaptation to ensure long-term community resilience. He holds a Master of Health Service Management and a Master of Bioethics, qualifications that inform his ethical, person-centred approach to systemic reform. Ben is excited to work alongside community organisations to help them adapt and thrive, ensuring no community is left to navigate the path to recovery alone.

Cara MacLeod is an artist, educator and community arts practitioner living on Yaegl Country. She has experience in disaster preparedness, community resilience and creative recovery as Community Lead for Fire to Flourish Clarence Valley (2022–25) and a socially-engaged artist. Cara initiates and facilitates community-led projects and events, including the Woombah Shelter, Community Garden and Tunes in the Trees, and has extensive experience in audience engagement and access across museums, galleries and schools.

Carlie (Caroline) Atkinson is a Bundjalung and Yiman woman, accredited Social Worker and Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, internationally recognised for her work in complex and intergenerational trauma and culturally informed, strengths-based healing. She is CEO of We Al-li, where she leads the development and delivery of Culturally Informed Trauma Integrated Healing Approaches (CITIHA) across Australia, and founder of the Northern Rivers Community Healing Hub, established as an Indigenous-led response to the social and emotional wellbeing needs of communities affected by the 2022 Northern Rivers floods.

Charlotte Haywood lives regionally in Northern NSW on Bundjalung Country. She is an experimental interdisciplinary artist working across the senses. She seeks cultural and linguistic nuances of the body and ecologies to decrypt and unfold multi-narratives; unearthing emergent narratives of coexistence. She has cultivated a highly collaborative and process-driven practice that is dedicated to Earth wise intelligence and the self-organising nature of life.

Claudie Frock is a socially-engaged, multidisciplinary artist, collaborator, creative mentor, and access advocate, currently working from The Outpost Studio and the Community Garden in Lismore. Claudie has worked across the arts, disability, education, and community sectors for more than 20 years, championing accessibility and inclusion. As someone directly affected by climate disaster, her work is grounded in ecology, community. In the aftermath of the 2022 floods in Lismore and the greater Northern Rivera region Claudie started the Collage Club at the Lismore Regional Gallery and Lismore Quad, a creative recovery program that supported community to come together in a creative and safe space, to foster connection and support each other. Following the 2022 Lismore floods, which Claudie experienced firsthand, her drawing and botanical ink making practice has shifted to prioritise the use of compostable, biodegradable, and responsibly recyclable materials, considering the full lifecycle of her artworks, and fostering conversations around ecological interdependence, reciprocity, resilience and climate camaraderie.

Dan Etheridge brings over 18 years of experience in the public interest design field to his role as Director of Living Lab Northern Rivers. After graduating from Southern Cross University’s Applied Science in Coastal Management program in 2002, Dan returned to New Orleans, Louisiana where he had studied for a semester as part of an SCU exchange program.

In Louisiana, Dan worked for Tulane University helping to establish applied research coastal restoration programs and ultimately working with the Tulane School of Architecture to open a community design center. The Tulane City Center was founded to support resident driven recovery and rebuilding programs after Hurricane Katrina. Dan helped direct the TCC for 10 years, establishing it as a critical component of the recovery and resilience infrastructure in the New Orleans area and one of the leading university-based community design centers in the country. Dan went on to co-found and direct the Public Interest Design Student Leadership Forum based out of University of Texas, Austin, a program that built a network of design and planning schools across America and developed an intensive short format curriculum focused on skills development for applying design and planning in the public interest.

Dan lives in Lismore with his wife and 2 kids.

Elly Bird is the Executive Director of Resilient Lismore, a community-led organisation at the forefront of recovery efforts in the region following the catastrophic disaster of 2022. With over two decades of experience in community organising and governance, Elly has played a central role in developing place-based, community-driven recovery programs.

Under her leadership, Resilient Lismore has supported the repair of more than 850 homes, coordinated thousands of volunteers, delivered community events and workshops, led sector development, influenced community governance structures, and advocated for flood-affected residents navigating the complex road to recovery. The organisation’s work is grounded in local knowledge and driven by the urgent need for emergency preparedness and recovery planning, at the same time as the region experiences the impacts of Australia’s largest ever housing buyback and resilience program.

Formerly a Lismore City Councillor; an organiser with Gasfield Free Northern Rivers; and the finale director of the Lismore Lantern Parade; Elly is a passionate advocate for housing security, climate justice, community empowerment, and collaborative disaster recovery efforts between government and local communities.

Erin Pelly is a disaster recovery leader with experience leading large-scale recovery programs across Australia. During her time with Australian Red Cross, she led recovery and resilience initiatives at state and national levels, supporting communities affected by disasters and contributing national recovery policy and practice. Her work focusses on designing and implementing community-led recovery programs, strengthening monitoring and evaluation practice, and fostering positive learning cultures. She is a collaborative and inclusive leader who champions community priorities to strengthen recovery outcomes into the future.

Jeanti St Clair (she/her) is a storycatcher who crafts and shares stories through text and audio. Her recent projects focus on the impact on communities of floods in the Northern Rivers, including Lismore Flood Stories (2021); Rescue: Stories and Portraits of Civilian Rescuers from the February 2022 Flood (2023) with Raimond de Weerdt, and Dear River (2023), with Rose Turtle Ertler. Jeanti is also a digital media and journalism lecturer at Southern Cross University. She lives on Widjabul-Wyabul lands in the Bundjalung Nation.

Jill is the Disaster Recovery Together Partner for the Richmond Valley, Chairperson of the Richmond Valley Community Resilience Network, and Team Leader of the Richmond Valley Program Support Services, supporting people through their recovery journey following the 2022 flood event. Jill has been with the Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre for around 20 years, working across a range of roles including Family Worker, Youth Worker and Centre Services Coordinator then moving to community recovery roles after the Northern Rivers 2022 flood event. Throughout her career, Jill has been a strong advocate for person-centred, place-based and community-led approaches.

Karin Ness has been with Resilient Lismore since November 2025 as the Coordinator of the Disaster Ready Together Project. The project funded by the Commonwealth and the NSW Government has provided the resources for the Summit where we are able to gather to progress the work already achieved in strengthening disaster resilience in the Northern Rivers. Karin has worked in recovery and preparedness since the bushfires in 2019. In her previous role with the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, Karin facilitated access to justice through information, education and advocacy particularly for people and communities experiencing barriers to accessing legal and other recovery and preparedness supports.

Kate Fitzgerald is the CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority. Kate also hold the statutory role as SERCON – the State Emergency Recovery Controller, responsible for controlling recovery in NSW following emergencies. Kate has extensive experience and education in the emergency management sector, and was previously the Deputy Secretary Emergency Management Victoria, responsible for strategic direction and financial management. Kate holds a Masters and Bachelor Degree in Emergency Management from Charles Sturt University, and is an International Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Kathie Heyman is the Network Lead of the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance, a coalition of 45+ grassroots groups strengthening disaster preparedness and recovery across the region. She works to connect communities, improve coordination, and support practical, community-led resilience initiatives following major events such as the 2022 floods. Her work focuses on enabling locally driven solutions, strengthening volunteer networks, and advocating for sustained support for community resilience across the Northern Rivers.

Lisa Gage is a Financial Counsellor with Northern Rivers Financial Counselling Service, based in Casino & Lismore. With over 8 years experience in financial counselling, Lisa has extensive experience supporting individuals and communities across the Northern Rivers, providing financial counselling advice and advocacy following the 2022 flood event. Lisa brings a strong understanding of the ongoing financial impacts of the flood and is passionate about supporting and advocating for community members experiencing financial hardship.

Elizabeth Lehmann is a Senior Solicitor at Legal Aid NSW. A Northern Rivers local living on Bundjalung Country, she joined Legal Aid NSW in the wake of the 2022 Northern Rivers floods and has since responded to multiple disasters across New South Wales through her work with the Disaster Response Legal Service. Prior to joining Legal Aid NSW, Elizabeth worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Aboriginal Legal Service.

Louissa Rogers is an environmental scientist, focusing on water resource management for over 20 years. Her experience working closely with communities and Traditional Owners has informed her understanding of place and enabled the integration of local values, knowledge, and experience into her projects. She brings this collaborative approach to her role as Project Manager for Richmond Landcare Inc.'s "Nature-based Solutions: Building Flood Resilience in the Lismore Catchment" project.

Dr Margaret Moreton is the Chief Executive Officer at Gender and Disaster Australia. She has a 40-year career including roles in federal government, philanthropy, the private sector, the non-government sector and as Executive Director at the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR). Her areas of focus have included leading social policy, advisory and program management roles in government, leading community resilience from within the Minderoo foundation, working with non-government organisations, and delivering private consultancy and advisory services. Margaret works to enhance outcomes for women, men and LGBTIQA+ people, Indigenous people, with a focus on intersectionality, achieving social and community outcomes, stronger families and communities, and mental health and wellbeing. Margaret is a Board Director at the Ballarat Foundation and lives in Ballarat, Victoria.

Maria Matthes has almost 40 years of experience as a threatened species conservation ecologist specialising in threatened plants and ecological communities, koala conservation, habitat assessment and population monitoring. Named Ballina Shire Council’s Environmentalist of the Year in 2021 and Citizen of the Year in 2022, Maria has worked extensively across northern NSW conducting field surveys and advising on conservation planning for threatened species. She brings deep on-ground knowledge of koala habitat use, feed-tree preferences and landscape connectivity requirements. Her work consistently highlights the importance of protecting and managing habitat as well as understanding the interactions between koala behaviour and biology and koala habitat in the landscape to maintain viable koala populations.

Marnie Laree Davis is a proud Aboriginal woman from Dharug Country, with strong family and cultural connections to Bundjalung, Kombumerri, and Quandamooka Countries, where she was raised. Marnie is an experienced Aboriginal facilitator and respected speaker who has dedicated her career to amplifying Aboriginal voices and ensuring community needs are at the centre of service design and delivery. Marnie brings extensive frontline experience in the domestic and family violence sector, having worked across government, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, community organisations, and refuge settings. Throughout her career, she has consistently advocated for culturally safe responses and improved pathways for Aboriginal families. As a Keynote Speaker, Marnie has presented at major forums including the Pathways to Safety for First Nations Women and Children Forum, Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum, Overcoming Indigenous Family Violence Forum, Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Forums and the National First Nations Housing & Homelessness Forum. Her keynote presentations draw on both lived experience and professional expertise to inspire action and accountability across sectors. Marnie is also a highly regarded facilitator of forum workshops and providing in-services to organisations such as Randwick Hospital, The Buttery, Grafton Mental Health Service (NSW Health), Men and Family Centre, Education centres, RAILS and Aboriginal Organisations. Marnie’s yarning circle training strengthens workforce capability, fosters collaboration, and supports culturally informed practice. In 2025, Marnie brought her Yarning for Change training programs to Women Up North Housing, an innovative, trauma-informed and culturally grounded training program focused on enhancing responses to sexual violence. Her training equips practitioners and communities with practical tools to respond to disclosures in culturally safe and trauma-informed ways. Marnie has also contributed to multiple Ministry of Health Working Party projects, providing critical cultural insight to inform policy and practice. Through all aspects of her work, Marnie empowers communities to speak up about domestic and family violence, support safe disclosures, and advocate for stronger, culturally grounded responses to create safer futures for Aboriginal families and communities.

Dr. Peter Bai James is an academic and health services researcher at Southern Cross University whose work examines public health, healthcare utilization, and the wellbeing of vulnerable populations, including migrant and refugee communities. His research and active community engagement focus on addressing health inequities, exploring migrant experiences within healthcare systems, and fostering multicultural support networks.

Dr. Rebecca McNaught is a Research Fellow - Rural and Remote Health based at the University Centre for Rural Health in Lismore, NSW. Rebecca has over 20 years of experience working with governments, NGOs and communities on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management across the Asia/Pacific and Middle East regions where she worked for the Red Cross and United Nations Development Program. She was a contributing author to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment report and the Australian Government's 2025 National Climate Risk Assessment. She currently Co-Chairs the 'Sustainability, Climate Change and Health Collaboration' at The University of Sydney. Locally, she is a founding member of the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance, and President of the South Golden Beach New Brighton and Ocean Shores Community Resilience Team.

Rik Barker is a registered Clinical Psychologist with more than 20 years’ experience across public and community mental health services. He has worked as both a frontline practitioner and a senior manager, leading teams and service development across NSW. Rik is the General Manager for Open Minds NSW, overseeing the Medicare Mental Health Centres in Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Kempsey, as well as a range of community mental health programs throughout the Northern Rivers.

Robert Leach is the Animal Rescue Program Officer for Oceania with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Working at the intersection of animal welfare and emergency management, his work spans Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, covering everything from bushfires, floods and cyclones to oil spills and volcanic eruptions. The focus is all-hazards response and sustainable community-led disaster resilience. In Australia, Rob develops and delivers wildlife response training for firegrounds, floodwaters and team leadership roles, and helps home-based wildlife rehabilitators prepare for disasters. He holds a Master of Veterinary Studies and is a Board Member of the Animal Emergency Incident Management Network. Rob also volunteers with Sydney Wildlife and ORRCA, and with NSW SES and VRA Rescue NSW's Search Dog team.

Ruth Rosenhek (MS Organisational Management, M App Soc Sci Counselling) Ruth is a writer and retired psychotherapist who also worked as an environmental activist both as a campaigner and in direct action. After the recent floods in Lismore, Ruth became the Project Manager of the Northern Rivers Community Healing Hub. She has facilitated Ecopsychology and Deep Ecology workshops worldwide and recently wrote a speculative dsytopic thriller novel based in the Northern Rivers.

Sam is a community builder, strategist, and leader dedicated to strengthening the connections, capabilities, and partnerships that help communities thrive.

As Managing Director at Plan C, Sam works alongside communities, organisations, and networks to support practical, locally led approaches to resilience, preparedness, and regeneration. His work focuses on bringing people together, aligning strategy with community priorities, and helping initiatives grow in ways that create lasting impact.

Across his career, Sam has worked at the intersection of community development, systems change, social impact and collaborative leadership. He is particularly interested in how strong relationships, shared leadership, and clear strategy can enable communities to navigate complex challenges—from disasters and recovery to long-term social and environmental change and regeneration.

Sam brings a calm, thoughtful, inclusive & positive approach to leadership and is motivated by the belief that resilient communities are built through trust, participation, and collective action. He is the father of two young children and lives on Minjugbul Country in the Tweed Shire. He loves to surf, run & stay active in the local community.

At Plan C, he is focused on supporting the organisation’s next phase of growth while staying grounded in the values that guide its work with communities in the Northern Rivers and across Australia.

Sarah works on Bundjalung Country with the ARC Gender Relations team (Men and Family Centre). She specialises in primary prevention of violence, men's behaviour change, and adult education. Sarah loves working creatively as a community capacity builder, educator and group facilitator in both mainstream and LGBTQSB+ communities to challenge oppressive systems and support strength, solidarity, safety and hope in the process of change.

Scotia Monkivitch is a performer and cultural leader living on the lands of the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, Meanjin/Brisbane Australia. She has a broad range of professional experiences working in the community arts and cultural development sector nationally and internationally - training, mentoring, strategic planning, project management, research and facilitation. Scotia is the Founder and Executive Officer of the Creative Recovery Network, a national agency working to develop and embed the vital role of community-connected culture and creativity in Australia’s disaster management system.

Von Hutcheson lives with her family and one dog by the beach in Narooma. She is a community preparedness and resilience practitioner on the NSW South Coast, with over a decade of experience in community engagement, disaster recovery and preparedness. As CODA Project Coordinator with Eden Community Access Centre, Von focuses currently on Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP), promoting inclusive, strengths-based and community-led approaches to building emergency resilience.