Board of Directors
Meet our Board
Julianne Whyte OAM
National President
Julianne Whyte OAM is the CEO, Director and Founder of a not-for-profit charity and organisation that provides disability, aged, social work and social impact programs aimed to increase the resilience, quality and vitality of people’s lives in rural communities where they operate. Julianne has over 45 years’ experience in health, community services, community development, policy and program development, and implementation and research. She is an Accredited Social Worker and is in the final stages of her PhD. Julianne received an OAM in 2017 for her research and community work in palliative and end-of-life care. Julianne is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Chris Hannan
National Vice President
Chris Hannan has previous experience as an AASW Director having served on the Board in 2021 and 2022.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Queensland and is an accredited mental health social worker. Chris has been practicing in the social work profession for almost 25 years across five states, in State & Federal government services, the not-for-profit sector and in private practice. She is passionate about social work and is a strong advocate of the Association’s policy roles in the areas of mental health, health, family and sexual violence, disability, and community development.
Professor Bindi Bennett
Director
Professor Bindi Bennett is Gamilaroi woman from Northern NSW currently living, working and playing on Jinibara Country in Queensland. Bindi is a social justice scholar, a compassionate radical and activist. Bindi was supported and encouraged by a significant Elder to start social work. Bindi spent 17 years working in mental health and youth health advocating for young people who had experienced a disadvantaged life, like hers. Bindi is a past Member of AASW’s National Research Committee. She enjoys research having been in academia since commencing her PhD scholarship in 2013. Bindi is passionate about diversity, representation, and inclusion. She is a tutor for First Nations social work students and believes that lived experience offers a pathway to deconstruct current challenges and barriers in systems, to become more equitable.
Dr Sue Green
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Director
Dr Susan Green is a Galari woman of the Wiradjuri nation and the Association’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Director. Sue has had an extensive history spanning 30 years in indigenous higher education across a number of roles such as student support, teaching and research. She also has sat on various committees, councils, boards, and networks including the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council and National Indigenous Research and Knowledges Network. Sue’s research interests include welfare history, indigenising social work education and practice, cultural responsiveness and cultural support, colonial history, decolonisation, climate change and disaster mitigation. Her foremost interest is ensuring that Wiradjuri language and culture underpins her all aspects of her personal and professional life. Susan is Chair of the Association’s Reconciliation Action Plan Committee, a Member of the National Ethics Committee and a Member of the Constitution Review Committee.
Dr Fotina Hardy
Director
Dr Fotina Hardy has over 30 years’ experience in direct practice, policy and research and as an educator, most recently nine years as Coordinator of Field Education for the BSW, MSW(Qualifying) and BHS degrees at a major Brisbane university. She has been co-convenor of the Queensland Social Policy sub-committee, Child Protection Practice Group and is a past member and convenor of the National Research Committee. Fotina holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Commerce, Doctor of Social Sciences along with a Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice. Fotina is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a current affiliate member of the AICD. As a Board member, Fotina is a member of the Association’s People and Culture Committee and is Chair of the Standards and Assessment Committee.
Ashton Hayes
Director
Ashton is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and has been practicing for over a decade, with the last several years in private practice specialising in supporting people who have experienced trauma. Ashton is a clinical supervisor, mentor, and leadership trainer. She is passionate about promoting the skills and professionalism that social workers bring to their communities. She has spent countless hours supporting social workers navigating the process of mental health accreditation, as well as offering mentorship and guidance to new graduates and other social workers who are planning out their careers.
Dr Brooke Kooymans
Director
Dr Brooke Kooymans is a current practising social worker with 24 years’ experience working within Australia’s leading government and non-government agencies, both in the public and private sectors. Brooke is the founder and Director of a disability social work private practice in Brisbane, Queensland, that services the disability community with a special focus on acquired disability, mental health and dual diagnosis. In addition to direct practice, Brooke holds a BA (psychology/Sociology), BSW, MSW, Grad Cert in Rehab Case Management and is currently undertaking a PhD with a research focus on “Social Work in Practice in the Community Sector”. Brooke was elected as a Director of the Association in October 2018 and is currently the Chair of the Association’s National Ethics Committee and a member of the People and Culture Committee.
Associate Professor Jessica Russ-Smith
Director
Associate Professor Jessica Russ-Smith (she/her) is a sovereign Wiradyuri Wambuul woman, Associate Professor Social Work, Assistant Deputy Head of School Allied Health and Indigenous Curriculum Lead at Australian Catholic University, and a Social Worker. Throughout her career, she has been committed to transforming the social work profession, decolonising higher education, and promoting social justice. Her passion and focus are on creating decolonising, critical learning and practice spaces for students, staff and practitioners which honour and are guided by First Nations sovereign knowledges. Jess’s research and teaching relates to Indigenous sovereignty, embodying sovereignty, decolonisation, decolonising social work and education, decolonising curriculum and higher education, Indigenous social work, ethics, activism, working with Aboriginal children and young people, Positive Behaviour Support Plans, AI and ethics and experiences of Indigenous researchers. Jess is a former Branch President of the ACT Branch Management Committee, a member of the Association’s Professional Regulation Committee and is currently the Co-Chair of the Finance, Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.
Muriel Wymarra
Director
Muriel Wymarra is a Torres Strait Islander woman born and raised in Gimuy (Cairns, Queensland). Muriel has her own private practice and is an experienced counsellor, critical incident manager, develops and delivers training workshops, as well as Employee Assistance programs. As a practising social worker and active community member, Muriel has over twenty-five years of experience working in Federal government administration and not-for-profit organisations. Whilst at Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services, Centrelink), Muriel was the chairperson of the National Indigenous Social Work Group (NISWG), supporting the professional development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers. Muriel is also on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Board of Trinity Bay State High School, Cairns. Muriel is presently undertaking her PhD focusing her research on exploring the concept of professional helping in Torres Strait culture. Muriel is also a Jilbay Research Higher Degree Academy member in the Office of Indigenous Engagement at Central Queensland University. Muriel was appointed to the Board in January 2024.