Speakers

Sarah Lim

Founder and CEO
BBSafe

Sarah is a safeguarding, governance and project consultant with more than twenty-five years’ experience across government and the not-for-profit sector. She specialises in institutional safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and not-for-profit governance, and is the CEO of BBSafe Safeguarding Consultancy.

With a background in law and social policy, Sarah has worked across institutional safety, youth justice, domestic and family violence, and not-for-profit governance.

Sarah was the lead in responding to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on behalf of one of the largest community services agencies in Australia and has worked closely with care leavers and survivors of abuse. She is also Chair of the Forde Foundation Board of Advice, supporting Forgotten Australians and other care leavers through practical assistance.

BBSafe grew from listening to survivors and a shared commitment to help prevent harm. The consultancy supports organisations working with children and vulnerable adults to strengthen culture, safeguarding and practice.

Maha Melhem

Director,
Melhem Legal & Consulting 

As a lawyer and child safety expert, Maha has advised and led reform work for independent regulators, child and youth serving organisations, government, and commissions of inquiry. She has contributed to significant reviews and reforms of laws, policy and practice for children's safety and wellbeing.

At the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Maha led work for information sharing law and policy reform across Australia. Following the Royal Commission, Maha established Melhem Legal & Consulting. Her work continues to focus on critical gaps in law and policy, and weaknesses in organisational culture, systems and governance, particularly in relation to high-risk settings, harmful sexual behaviours, and other new and emerging risks. 

Susan Rayment-McHugh, PhD

Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice
University of Sunshine Coast

Associate Professor Susan Rayment-McHugh is an established national leader in sexual violence and abuse prevention. Her academic career builds on a 28-year professional history working with youth and adults who have committed sexual offences, victims of child sexual abuse, and in community level prevention.

Her scholarly work is concerned with how we can best prevent sexual violence and abuse; challenging conventional thinking and proposing alternative evidence-informed approaches to prevention policy and practice. Her conceptual contributions have championed ‘just’, contextual, place-based, and community engaged prevention models, and the importance of secondary prevention of sexual violence and abuse, with the most at-risk populations, including in remote First Nations communities. Her research and clinical practice have also focused on improving treatment for youth and adults who engage in harmful sexual behaviour.

A/Prof Rayment-McHugh is Co-Leader of the Sexual Violence Research and Prevention Unit and an Associate Professor in Criminology and Justice, within the School of Law and Society. She is also a member of the Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Susan is a criminologist and registered psychologist and is Associate Editor of the UK-based Journal of Sexual Aggression. She has a PhD in Criminology and a Masters Degree in Psychology (Forensic).

Elizabeth Lee

Rev Andrew Robertson

Associate General Secretary, Placements & Safe Church
Uniting Church of South Australia

Rev Andrew Robertson serves as Associate General Secretary  (Placements and Safe Church) for the Uniting Church in South Australia. An ordained minister, Andrew has spent many years working alongside congregations, ministry leaders, and church communities to foster cultures of safety, trust, and accountability.

Andrew believes safeguarding is far more than compliance, it is a practical expression of justice, hospitality, and care for the most vulnerable among us. His work focuses on helping churches create environments where children, young people, older people, people with disability, and all members of the community can participate safely and fully.

Drawing on experience in ministry leadership, governance, professional standards, and Safe Church practice, Andrew is passionate about equipping leaders to respond thoughtfully to risk while building communities that reflect the compassion and dignity at the heart of the Gospel.

Robert Fitzgerald AM

Robert Fitzgerald AM is the Australian Age Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission. He has had a distinguished career in public policy, regulation, and social justice. Prior to this role he served as the NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner, where he led significant reforms to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Robert has also served as a Commissioner with the Productivity Commission and has held numerous leadership roles across the community sector. His work has consistently focused on strengthening accountability, governance, and safeguards that protect vulnerable people.

Mathisha Panagoda

Rev Dr Tim Hein 

Rev Dr Tim Hein is Uniting Church Minister currently serving at Malvern Uniting Church and as Minister of Public Theology at Uniting Communities. 

He is the author of Understanding Sexual Abuse: A Guide for Ministry Leaders & Survivors.

He has previously served as Executive Officer for Mission & Leadership Development in the SA Synod of the Uniting Church, and as Vice-Principal of Uniting College for Leadership & Theology. Tim has also served the broader community as an elected member on Mitcham Council. He also co-hosts The Unmade Podcast. 

Tim enjoys alternative music and tennis. He is married to Priscilla, who is also a Minister.