CEO, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety

Heather Nancarrow has 35 years’ experience working on the prevention of violence against women, including direct service provision, policy and legislation, and research and professional development.

Heather has held many leadership roles at both the state and national level in regard to policy on the prevention of violence against women. These include foundation Director of the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Co-Deputy Chair of the COAG Advisory Panel to Reduce Violence against Women 2015-16, member of the Queensland Premier’s Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence 2014-15, and Deputy Chair of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women 2008-09, which produced Time for Action, the blue-print for COAG’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

Heather has a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her primary research interests are justice responses to violence against women, particularly as they relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.