At GROW’s recent Annual General Meeting, three new Directors were appointed to GROW’s Board. Please join us in welcoming:

Virginia Slaughter: Virginia is a Professor and Head of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland.  A developmental psychologist by training, Virginia’s own research focuses on social and cognitive development in infants and young children. In her 25-year career as an academic, Virginia has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, three edited volumes and a first-year Psychology textbook.  She is the recipient of several teaching awards, including the University of Queensland Teaching Excellence Award (1999) and an Australian Award for University Teaching (in the category Teaching Large First Year Classes; 2005).  Virginia is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

Ina Mullin: Ina has forged her career in the field of mental health, working to increase the understanding of the issues faced, and resilience of, people who have experienced emotional distress. Ina joined Lifeline in June 2018 after business development, brand management and public relations roles at a variety of charity organisations. After serving 10 years as an overnight volunteer at a crisis shelter for the homeless, Ina has focused on creating opportunities that contribute to building a more compassionate society with emphasis on empowering people with lived experience to share their story safely.  Ina holds a Master of Arts in Communications Management, an Executive Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons).

Sonia Di Mezza: Sonia is a solicitor and human rights lawyer. She is the CEO of the Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services in Bendigo, Victoria, supporting refugees and migrants with settlement services. Sonia has worked as the CEO of a domestic violence NGO, as well as Deputy CEO of an NGO that advocates for the rights of people with disability and mental ill health. She has set up and managed human rights projects in Pakistan and Sudan, worked as a Resettlement Consultant for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon, worked in India promoting the rights of child labourers, and as a Refugee Lawyer in Australia. Sonia holds a Master of International Law, majoring in human rights law.

GROW is excited to have Sonia, Ina and Virginia as Directors, and we look forward to their positive contribution to GROW.