The Chair of the Victorian Law Reform Commission is the Hon. Jennifer Coate AO, who was appointed to this position on 30 January 2024. She has held a number of judicial appointments including Magistrate, Deputy Chief Magistrate, the inaugural President of the Children’s Court of Victoria, Judge of the County Court of Victoria, and the first female State Coroner of Victoria. In January 2013, Justice Coate was appointed a judge of the Family Court of Australia and thereafter released onto the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, where she served as one of six Commissioners for the five years of that Royal Commission. Ms Coate has previously held positions as a part-time Victorian Law Reform Commissioner, a solicitor in private practice, a solicitor for the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria and a legal policy officer in the Attorney-General’s office of the Victorian Government. In October 2014, she was appointed as a Fellow of Monash University. In January 2019, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. In April 2020, she was appointed as the Chair of the Victorian Victims of Crime Consultative Committee. In 2020, Ms Coate conducted an Inquiry into Hotel Quarantine in Victoria. She was appointed to the Victorian Law Reform Commission in June 2020 and reappointed for four years in July 2022. She was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law in May 2022, and was awarded Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by Monash University in September 2023.

Chelsea believes all victim survivors of domestic and family violence deserve best practice services and support. She is passionate about providing the highest possible standard of care, particularly to marginalised people and is dedicated to ensuring that all children and young people are heard and understood as victim survivors in their own right. During her time at Safe Steps she has led significant organisational change to ensure all people can access family violence services, and produced an impact film called “Unanswered Calls” shining a light on of young people who are virtually invisible in the family violence system. With an incredible career spanning both the corporate and not-for profit sectors, Chelsea has led organisations as a CEO, Director, Non-Executive Director. Chelsea has worked across family services, child protection, domestic violence and disability as well as an economist in strategy and mergers and acquisitions at large corporates and professional services. Chelsea has a wealth of experience leading and empowering teams to deliver large scale socially and commercially impactful projects and forging powerful partnerships. Chelsea and her husband have been foster carers for more than ten years, experiencing first-hand the impact of family violence on young lives and advocating for long-term, meaningful solutions. Chelsea holds a PhD in economics and psychology from Monash University.

Janise Mitchell is the CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation and Director of the Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Arts and Social Sciences with Southern Cross University. Janise has more than 38 years’ experience in the field of child trauma. She completed a Master of Social Work (Research) in 2008 in therapeutic foster care having been instrumental in the implementation of therapeutic care for more than 21 years. Janise is a founding Board member of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse and Board member of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. Janise has extensive experience in the development of innovative therapeutic programs for traumatised children and young people. Janise has provided consultancy to many governments on the issue of therapeutic services for children and young people and regularly participates on state and national Advisory Groups seeking to address the needs of children and young people in the child protection, out of home care, secure care and youth justice sectors. Janise has a commitment to evidence informed practice and believes strongly in the participation of young people in the development of services, policies and programs that seek to support them. Janise has presented nationally and internationally and has a range of publications including: "The Handbook of Trauma-Transformative Practice: Emerging Therapeutic Frameworks for Supporting Individuals, Families or Communities Impacted by Violence" and "The Handbook of Therapeutic Care for Children: Evidence-Informed Approaches to Working with Traumatized Children and Adolescents in Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Care"

Suzanne is the Group Director at Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, leading its Business Growth & Innovation. She also serves as a Board member for Sexual Assault Services Victoria. Over the last two decades she successfully delivered flagship initiatives advancing Australian industry capability, accelerating net-zero transition and building a more resilient and sustainable future for Australia. She has a diverse professional background - including having practised as a criminal solicitor - and has a proven track record in trade and economic development, technology commercialisation and government. She has served in several Senior Executive roles, including as COO of the Federal Government’s Accelerating Commercialisation Program, CEO of the Future Business Council, and as Ministerial Adviser to the Treasurer of South Australia. Suzanne holds an MBA from Monash Business School and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Adelaide and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.