IPAA Victoria announces 2025 Victorian Fellows, National Fellow and Emerging First Peoples Leader Scholarship recipient

Kayla Cartledge is a proud Gurindji woman whose journey began on Larrakia Country in the Northern Territory and later continued on Bunurong/Boon Wurrung land in the Mornington Peninsula.

With nearly 15 years of experience in the public purpose sector, Kayla has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to systemic change and community empowerment. As Director of the First Peoples’ Energy branch within the Victorian Government, she plays a pivotal role in supporting Traditional Owners’ self-determined pathways through Victoria’s clean energy transformation. Her leadership is grounded in cultural integrity, strategic thinking, and a dedication to building meaningful partnerships that strengthen the cultural capability of government and industry.

Beyond her public service, Kayla is the founder of Our Songlines, a grassroots platform fostering healing, learning, and solidarity among First Nations people and allies. She leads the annual Our Survival Day event and launched Our Dilly Bag to connect Australians with Indigenous businesses and cultural experiences. Her advocacy during the Voice to Parliament campaign, board roles with Baluk Arts, Aboriginal Melbourne, SENVIC and Nairm Marr Djambana reflect her unwavering commitment to justice and community-led change. Kayla’s leadership is both visionary and grounded.

As Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Ro Allen works to uphold Victorians’ rights, promote accountability and build a fairer, safer and more inclusive community.  In their 25 years involved in community services, governance and social justice, Ro has served as inaugural Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities where they worked to promote the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ Victorians, advocate for their rights, and provide strategic advice to the Victorian Government.

Ro has held a range of leadership roles, including chairing the Victorian Adult, Community and Further Education Board and Youth Affairs Council Victoria, and serving as Commissioner on the Victorian Skills Commission. As founding CEO of UnitingCare in Shepparton, Ro worked at grassroots level to develop and support Aboriginal self-determination, refugee settlement, and family violence and mental health initiatives, as well as emergency disaster responses.

Ro was inducted into the Victorian Government Honour Roll for Women in 2009, has a Centenary Medal for services for young people, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the AICD Victorian Division Council.

Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing landmark initiatives such as Burndap Birrarung burndap umarkoo (the Yarra Strategic Plan), the Water is Life roadmap, and the creation of the inaugural First Nations Water Branch and Aboriginal Water Unit – supporting self-determined water outcomes for First Nations communities.

In addition to this work, Deb has played a key role in the development and implementation of significant water policies and strategies. Her contributions include leadership on Sustainable Water Strategies, urban water policies, Murray–Darling Basin initiatives and the Water is Life: Traditional Owner Access to Water Roadmap.

Amanda is Victoria’s Lead Scientist, a role that aligns and connects Victoria’s science, technology and innovation capability with business needs and with government’s economic development activities.

Amanda is Chair of mRNA Victoria’s Scientific Advisory Group; Chair of the Victorian Quantum Technology Network; and a non-executive Director of Agriculture Victoria Services Pty Ltd.

She has led the development of industry and science and innovation policy in Victoria since joining the Victorian Public Service in 2002 as the inaugural Director of Biotechnology. During this time, she has delivered major policy reforms, a range of programs and global partnerships, and landmark initiatives including the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Amanda is experienced in clinical trials, regulatory affairs, business development and licensing through prior roles with international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Nicola is deeply committed to the public purpose sector. She is an experienced public service executive who has worked in policy, program, corporate, operational and oversight roles.

With an academic background in social work, criminology and cultural arts, Nicola has contributed to the delivery and reform of services to children and families, people experiencing mental health challenges and people interacting with the justice system. Her work has included a consistent focus on institutional child safety. She is known for her experience and expertise in the role and conduct of public inquiries and independent reviews, and has made a significant contribution to how future inquiries support the participation of vulnerable people.

Nicola is currently Executive Director, Governance & Statewide Programs in the Victorian Department of Health and prior to that was the Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools. Prior executive roles include health workforce strategy, mental health reform and as Director of Policy and Research at the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Nicola is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Board Director of SANE Australia and The Dax Centre and has previously been a Board Director of YWCA Victoria and Y Housing.

Gavin joined FRV in 2020 from the Country Fire Authority (CFA), where he served as the Deputy Chief Officer and Executive Director for Community Service Delivery. Gavin joined the CFA in 2017 from Tasmania where he built his career with the Tasmania Fire Service for 32 years, including seven years as Deputy Chief and Chief Officer.

Gavin previously acted as CFA’s Chief Executive Officer/Chief Officer and has undertaken the role of Victorian State Response Controller since 2017, including during the damaging 2019-20 bushfire season.

During his time with CFA, Gavin was instrumental in the delivery of major projects such as Emergency Medical Response (EMR), road crash rescue support and the integration of wellbeing services into operations.

Since joining FRV Gavin has undertaken the role of Deputy Commissioner – Operations where he has been accountable to ensure frontline service delivery in all aspects of FRV’s legislated responsibilities. He was appointed Commissioner in May 2023.

Gavin completed a Master’s Degree in Emergency Management in 2010. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Executive Leadership, an Advanced Diploma of Firefighting (Management) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Fire Engineers. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Gavin received a National Emergency Medal in 2013, Australian Fire Service Medal in 2011 and a National Medal in 2010.

Jonathan Kaplan was appointed the inaugural Social Services Regulator of Victoria on 1 February 2024.

He is responsible for exercising the duties, functions and powers of the Regulator under the Social Services Regulation Act 2021.

Prior to his appointment as the Social Services Regulator, Jonathan was the CEO of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority, which regulates education and training in schools and vocational education and training providers.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (with Honours) in Law and History, a Post Graduate Certificate in Management and a Diploma in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling. He is also a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and an Executive Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).

Rebecca is the Executive Director of the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department. Rebecca completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne, holds Bachelor Degrees in both Science (Biochemistry) and Law and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Director’s flagship Company Director’s Course.

Rebecca has extensive experience as a forensic practitioner, having worked in public and private sectors, in Australia and the UK. When practicing, Rebecca’s specialty was forensic biology, encompassing DNA analysis, bloodstain pattern analysis, serology, hair and damage examination.

Rebecca’s commitment to service delivery, combined with her role as a key leader in the forensic science community, has seen her make a unique contribution community safety in Victoria. Appointed in 2018 The first female Executive Director of the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department, Rebecca oversees more than 500 staff to process more than 75,000 requests annually, making the Department one of the largest forensic science service providers in Australia. Rebecca is passionate about the capacity of forensic science to support robust investigative and evidential outcomes and contribute to a safer community for all Victorians. In 2019 Rebecca was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to forensic science and public administration in support of community safety in Victoria. In 2022 Rebecca was appointed in the capacity of expert advisor to the Queensland Commission of Inquiry (COI) into DNA Testing. In 2023, Rebecca was appointed to Forensic Science Queensland’s Interim Advisory Board to oversee the recommendations arising from the Queensland COI into DNA Testing.

Rebecca is currently the Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Executive Committee, a regional representative on the International Strategic Forensic Science Alliance, and an elected council member of the Victorian Chapter of the Australian Academy of Forensic Science. Rebecca was formerly the Victorian Branch President of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society.

Fiona was appointed Victorian Legal Services Commissioner and CEO of the Legal Services Board in September 2017 and commenced her tenure as regulator of the Victorian legal profession in January 2018. She was reappointed for a second and final five year term from January 2023.

Fiona is the former CEO of the access to justice organisation, Justice Connect and has previously held the positions of General Counsel at World Vision Australia and Special Counsel at Clayton Utz. Fiona has a BA (Hons) from the University of Melbourne majoring in psychology with honours in criminology, an LLB from the University of NSW and an LLM in public and international law from the University of Melbourne. She also has an LLM in public service law from the New York University Law School and has attended both the Harvard and Stanford Business Schools.

Fiona held many for purpose board roles. Currently, Fiona is Co-Chair of Equality Australia and Chair of the Australian Communities Foundation. She was a founding Director and Board Chair of Health Justice Australia, the augural Deputy Chair of the Australian Non-for-Profit and Charities Commission for five years and was on the board of the Human Rights Law Centre from 2010 to 2017.

Paul Broderick was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Commissioner of the State Revenue Office in June 2002.

Paul joined the SRO as Executive Director of Operations after holding senior positions with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Under Paul’s leadership, the SRO has won numerous awards for technology, customer services and leadership, including the 2020 Victorian Public Sector Leading Employer Award.

Paul has a Master of Business Administration from the University of New England, is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, and was recognised with a Public Service Medal for outstanding services to tax administration.