Frontline experts join Anrows board

Prominent First Nations leader Craig Rigney and NSW policy expert Jennifer Quincey have been appointed to the Board of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS).

The appointments bring a powerhouse of frontline and strategic expertise to the national research body at a critical time as it works to deliver practical and actionable insights for the implementation of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.

Craig Rigney, a proud Ngarrindjeri/Kaurna man and CEO of KWY Aboriginal Corporation, joins the Board with more than 14 years of experience delivering cultural and support services that span domestic and sexual violence prevention, men’s behaviour change, kinship care, and social and emotional wellbeing.

Extensive experience

Mr Rigney is a leading advocate for Aboriginal-led solutions and policy reform.

Craig Rigney is CEO of KWY Aboriginal Corporation. Main photo: Jennifer Quincey.

“Addressing domestic, family, and sexual violence requires strong collaboration, informed research, and a deep connection to Community,” Mr Rigney said.

“I am proud to join the ANROWS Board to offer an Aboriginal cultural lens to this work and to help make research and outputs more accessible, practical, and user-friendly for the communities that need them most.”

Jennifer Quincey, Executive Director of Women, Family and Community Safety at the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, brings extensive experience across public finance, organisational governance, and evidence-based social policy.

“My connection to this work comes from years spent working alongside people striving to keep women and children safe, and from personal experiences,” Ms Quincey said.

“Joining the ANROWS Board excites me because it brings all these forces together — listening deeply, valuing expertise from victim-survivors, the sector and government, and helping research translate into actionable change.”

ANROWS Board Chair Joan Fitzpatrick said the appointments brought invaluable perspectives and a profound understanding of the intersection between community-led service and systemic change.

“Their deep operational expertise ensures that ANROWS remains not only a leader in research but a critical partner to the practitioners and policymakers working to end violence against women and children,” she said.

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) is a not-for-profit independent national research organisation.

It is an initiative of Australia’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022.

Lived realities of communities

ANROWS was established by the Commonwealth and all State and Territory governments of Australia to produce, disseminate and assist in applying evidence for policy and practice addressing violence against women and their children.

ANROWS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said the appointments ensure the organisation’s research remains deeply grounded in the lived realities of communities impacted by violence.

“Craig and Jennifer’s appointments align with ANROWS’ purpose to deliver evidence that is practical and accessible in a way that makes a tangible difference to women and children’s safety,” Dr Boyd-Caine said.

“Their leadership ensures we are guided by people with significant expertise in the sector as we work to be a culturally-safe, community-informed organisation committed to authentic engagement.”