Meet Cohort #1 of our Policy Managers Intensive

28 May 2025

We’ve just wrapped up our first cohort of the Policy Managers Intensive.

In developing this training, we considered the three key skills required for Policy Managers, as being:

• stepping back and seeing the policy landscape,
• connecting with people and making the case for change, and
• leading a team and turning strategy into action.

With each cohort, we want to celebrate the people who are part of the Intensive.

Meet our first cohort.

Melissa Docker, Manager, Policy and Development, Carers NSW

Melissa is the Manager Policy and Development at Carers NSW, where she supervises the Policy team, who conduct policy analysis and systemic advocacy to improve outcomes for carers across New South Wales. Melissa holds a Masters of Occupational Therapy from University of Sydney and a Diploma of Government (Policy) from Canberra Institute of Technology. She has a clinical background in disability, dual diagnosis and aged care and has practiced in acute and community settings.

Giulia Fabris, Policy Advocacy Lead, Health Justice Australia

Giulia is a policy specialist with 10 years of experience in shaping policy and leading projects across state and federal government, member organisations, and not-for-profits, with a strong focus on the social determinants of health, health equity and First Nations policy. She is deeply committed to social justice and seek to use her skills to influence systems and improve access to quality health and social services for communities that need them most.

Edith Hurt, Palms International Volunteering & InGeNA

Edith has contributed to policy, advocacy, and government relations initiatives, with a career spanning the health, corporate, research, and social impact sectors. She has influenced national agendas through strategic roles in peak bodies, non-profits, and government-linked organisations, and has held multiple board directorships, including founding director roles. Edith combines her academic grounding in human services policy and data science strategy with deep experience in stakeholder engagement, program delivery, multi-disciplinary team leadership and regulatory environments. She is known for translating complex ideas into actionable policy and fostering collaboration across sectors to achieve systemic change aligned with community needs and public value.

Andy Kelly, Director of Campaigns, CHOICE

Andy Kelly is the Deputy Director of Campaigns at CHOICE, having worked in policy and campaigning for ten years in both the consumer advocacy and environmental space.

Rashmi Kumar, Acting Manager Family Safety, SNAICC

Rashmi is passionate about social justice and making a difference for people who are marginalised and facing injustice. She has worked in advocacy in social policy for about 15 years, across a range of organisations and roles including in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice, preventing and responding to violence against women, anti-racism, and promoting the rights of people with disability. She sees this as not just a job, but a life-long calling. Rashmi is always keen to expand her skills and knowledge to be able to promote social justice.

Nareeda Lewers, Manager, Policy and Strategic Advocacy, Criminal Law, Victorian Legal Aid

Nareeda is the Manager, Policy and Strategic Advocacy, Criminal Law at Victoria Legal Aid. Prior to this role, she worked at the Centre for Innovative Justice, where she advocated for the expansion of restorative justice and co-founded Open Circle, a restorative justice practice. Nareeda is an experienced policy adviser and researcher and has published peer reviewed papers in areas including family law and multi-disciplinary practice. She is also a lawyer, and in her early career practised criminal law in the legal assistance sector.

Bonnie Matheson, Manager Commercial Determinants of Health, VicHealth

Bonnie lives and works on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm, Melbourne. She leads teams to create social change. Bonnie is currently managing the Commercial Determinants of Health team at VicHealth, an independent statutory authority, working with our partners to combat industries that harm the health of people and planet. She has also worked in federal, state and local government across Victoria, ACT and Western Australia.

Beth Scholes, Policy Manager, Cancer Council Victoria

Beth started her career as a Dietitian working in clinical care in hospitals and private practice. She has always been interested in public health and health policy, leading her to various policy roles across non-government organisations, in nutrition, health and mental health policy. In her current role at Cancer Council Victoria, Beth applies both her clinical expertise and policy skills to lead policy and advocacy in cancer care.

Natalie Stapleton

Nat is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian who works collaboratively with others to strengthen health and nutrition policy to improve health and well-being outcomes for all Australians. Her experience spans clinical practice as a dietitian and exercise physiologist, association work, public health program and policy work and leadership roles.

Kristen Thomson, Coordinator Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships, Frankston City Council

Kristen is the lead for advocacy and strategic partnerships at Frankston City Council, with over 15 years of experience in communications and government relations roles across local and state governments. She has extensive knowledge of Local, State and Federal government matters and brings strong capability and expertise in effectively managing stakeholder relationships, engaging meaningfully with community, delivering successful advocacy campaigns and providing strategic advice to executives. Kristen’s passion lies in bringing government and community together to achieve positive outcomes.

Hal Tilemann, Victorian Legal Aid

Hal has worked as criminal defence lawyer and prosecutor, and in policy and management roles in the legal sector. He seeks to promote the justice system’s potential as a vehicle for positive change. He is particularly passionate about improving access to justice and has worked with access to justice organisations both domestically and internationally.

To find out more about future cohorts of our Policy Managers Intensive, visit our training page.