Committee of Management

Julia Cookson: Chair

 M.Com (Bus), BA (Psych), GAICD, Certified Chair.

Julia brings over 25 years of senior leadership, strategic development, and executive experience, including working as a qualified Director (AICD) on Health Services Boards. Her passion for health, aged care and community support services began when she worked as an Executive in a national genomics facility when technology started reshaping medical discovery. Since then, she has held Executive roles in large aged and disability care NFPs, national mental health and Family Violence providers. Her expertise spans Diversity and Inclusion, Governance, Strategy, HR, Finance, Risk and digital transformation through various stages in growth cycles, giving her a diverse perspective and deep understanding of shaping culture. Julia joined the Project Respect Committee of Management as Chair in November 2021.

Bettina Twyman: Deputy Chair

B.Education, M. Habilitation, 20 years in the social welfare sector.

Bettina has 20 years of experience in working in welfare and community services across Sydney, Melbourne and the Northern Territory within case coordination and program delivery roles and a focus on empowering Women, Youth and CALD communities. She is an Academic Fellow through the Department of Education and ISSI foundation and she leads education, training and welfare assistance program delivery to local communities in her role as Project Coordinator for Yarraville Community Centre. She is passionate about supporting women to achieve their pathways and goals. Bettina joined the Project Respect Committee of Management in 2019.

Trisha Kirkland: Company Secretary

B.A, Grad Dip App Psych, M.A.Ps.S

Trisha is a seasoned executive leader, coach and consulting psychologist. She specialises in leadership assessment, development and designing values led organisational growth and cultural change programs. With a strong values and purpose led approach, her 20+ years’ experience has seen her focus on supporting leaders enhance their impact and lead large scale enterprise-wide transformation programs to improve workplace culture and employee experience. Her focus has been on developing and implementing strategies aimed at eradicating sexual misconduct, enhanced cultural awareness and literacy, and improved engagement and inclusion of diverse and marginalised communities. Trisha worked as a psychotherapist for 10 years before moving into people advisory leadership roles in professional services firms, working with a broad range of presenting issues with a particular focus on those impacted by childhood trauma. Trisha joined the Project Respect Committee of Management in 2024.

Angelika Broederlow: Treasurer

BA (Psych), MAICD, 20+ years in the NFP sector 

Specialising in Executive leadership of complex client services through reform landscapes, Angelika has 25+ years in the government and NFP sector and 15 years of leadership across the family violence and sexual assault sectors.  Angelika’s reform experience spans child protection, health, mental health and family violence.  A leader since the inception of the family violence reforms, she led the introduction and implementation of the first National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010; Victoria’s first accompanying Action Plans; supported the Royal Commission into Family Violence 2015 and through various leadership consulting roles, led and supported the embedding of Royal Commission Recommendations. A member of AICD Angelika has supported multiple national and statewide complex client service workforces and holds expertise in the oversight of operations; innovation and systems design; financial growth; diversity and inclusion; stakeholder management and governance, risk and compliance. Angelika joined the Project Respect Committee of Management in November 2024 and was endorsed as Treasurer in April 2025. 

Patricia Saca

M.Business Administration

Patricia has 20+ years of experience in operations management and holds an MBA from Emory University. She is passionate about advancing women’s empowerment and choice through her work in non-profit organisations and women’s charities. Patricia is the Treasurer at Project Respect and uses her international career experience to enhance her volunteer work. Patricia joined the Project Respect Committee of Management in 2019.

Elizabeth Trewhella: Fundraising Sub Committee Chair

Elizabeth (Liz) has worked in the not-for-profit sector for over 12 years. She is purpose driven and dedicated to empowering women and gender diverse clients to achieve economic security through increased workforce participation. Liz has extensive experience across philanthropy, social enterprise management, strategic planning and program development, client service delivery and counselling. She is currently in a senior leadership role and chair of a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. With a desire to broaden her support and advocacy for gender equity, social justice and human rights, Liz joined the Project Respect Committee of Management in 2024.

Kia Xin Koh

B.Comm, CPA, FSA, GAICD

Kia has over 15 years of experience in accounting, auditing and governance. Her diverse audit experience across sectors such as healthcare, education and local government, combined with her deep knowledge of regulatory frameworks positions her to guide organisations in maintaining robust financial and governance practices. Over the years, her experience in strategic consulting has sharpened her skills in driving operational improvements, project management, leading M&A activities and implementing best practices to optimise business performance. Her ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with diverse stakeholders has been essential in overcoming complex organisational challenges. Driven by a passion for making a positive impact, she is dedicated to contributing to meaningful change. Kia joined the Project Respect Committee of Management in 2024.

Carolyn Gowers: Executive Director

B.Comm, CA (CA ANZ), Grad Dip Psych, Dip Quality Auditing

Carolyn has extensive career experience in senior management in community services and family violence sector organisations, collaborating with practice experts in developing frameworks for clinical governance, quality and risk management. She is a strong advocate for inclusion and access, particularly for marginalised communities, for gender equity, and for the amplification of lived experience voices. Carolyn is a systems level thinker with a social justice imperative and takes joy in the development of people, promoting healthy organisational culture, and creative problem solving. Carolyn joined Project Respect as the Executive Director in February 2022. 

Ambassador

Fiona McLeod AO SC

BA, LLB, M.(PUB & INT) LAW, GAICD

Fiona is a leader in the Australian legal field having led the Law Council of Australia, Australian Victorian Bar and Australian Women Lawyers. Fiona is passionate about advocating for survivors of trafficking and their rights to access support and compensation. Fiona is a fierce advocate for the implementation of a National Compensation Scheme as well as the removal of barriers for survivors to access support – both critical for survivors to heal and recover from their experience of trafficking. Fiona became Project Respect’s first ambassador in 2020.