Carla Wilshire OAM is the founding CEO of The Social Policy Group (SPG). She is an economist that specialises in social policy design and the impact of technology. She has a background in public policy development and impact strategy, corporate governance, and tertiary research. Before establishing SPG, Carla worked in senior roles in the public service and as an advisor to the Government, principally in migration and settlement, including as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. She also held academic and consulting positions in Australia and abroad. Carla is the Board Director of The Australian Centre for Social Innovation, the co-founder and Deputy Chair of the Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership and the Judicial Council on Diversity & Inclusion, as well as a member of the Council of Harmony Alliance, the national migrant and refugee women's alliance.
Deputy CEO
Emily is the Deputy CEO of the Social Policy Group, bringing nearly two decades of high-level expertise in the design, execution, and delivery of transformative social policy.
Her career in the Public Service is marked by strategic leadership and a commitment to addressing significant social disadvantage through systems reform, inclusive design, and service accessibility. Emily is recognised for her ability to deliver impactful results across complex policy landscapes, driving lasting and sustainable change in community wellbeing and social justice.
Emily's extensive international engagement further strengthens her reputation as a leader in social policy, with a proven track record of successful global partnerships and cross-border initiatives. She is a passionate advocate for policy reforms that advance social policy objectives through innovative community informed solutions.
Senior Manager - Communications & Engagement
Marta manages the Communications and Engagement Team at SPG. Marta is passionate about the power of communication to connect people with ideas and support positive social change. She has tertiary qualifications in communications, international trade and development, and anthropology, and has a rich professional background having worked across international development, trade and health sectors. Marta has always had a passion for women's rights and challenging harmful social norms. She is strongly driven by positive social movements and working towards a more equal, safe and compassionate society.
Senior Manager - Migration & Settlement
Nick works on policy and projects in the SPG Settlement and Community Capacity Building team. Nick helps facilitate the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) Community of Practice (CoP) and supports the Ukrainian Community and Settlement Support (UCASS) grant program. Nick also facilitates research, consultation, and policy formulation in settlement and community capacity building. Nick has a background in humanitarian-development research as well as evaluation and learning, having previously conducted research for non-government organisations, the United Nations, foundations, and donor governments, with a focus on Afghanistan. Nick holds a Master of International Relations from the University of Melbourne.
Policy & Program Manager
Lynette is the Policy and Program Manager with The Social Policy Group. For the past decade, she has worked as a public health practitioner spanning health promotion and advocacy, and digital health across Australia, Mongolia, and Switzerland. Lynette has worked with WHO Headquarters, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and the Victorian Department of Health to support efforts to access to COVID-19 vaccination among priority populations and increase momentum towards universal health coverage. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Melbourne. Her passion for working with and helping to improve the lives of migrant and refugee communities stems from being the daughter of parents with refugee backgrounds. She is currently a Board Member of the United Nations Association of Australia (Victorian Division).
Clinical Advisor
Dr Scott Takeshi Mills is a medical practitioner and working clinician with cross-over expertise in medicine, public health and communications.
Scott holds a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) with a Masters of International Public Health (MIPH), and has pre-medical background in media production and communications, digital technology and human-centred design.
Scott's areas of interest are health systems, health policy and health communications, with a specialised interest in AI safety in healthcare. This skillset offers a unique synergy of patient and provider service delivery insight with a population-oriented approach, communication and behaviour change experience, and a systems-level understanding of healthcare and the wider social determinants.
Project Administrator - Digital Communications & Engagement
Varsha coordinates digital design and multilingual communication for SPG, focusing on CALD audiences. She assesses community needs, builds capacity through skill development, and facilitates information delivery. Varsha led a campaign aligned with the National Dowry Abuse Prevention Framework, creating community-led resources on family violence. She holds a BA (Hons.) in Japanese and an MA in Asian and Pacific Studies, and is a former Japanese Government Scholar. She speaks Hindi and Japanese.
Project Management Officer
Shixi joins the SPG Digital Inclusion and Communication Team as the Project Management Officer. Shixi holds an MA in International Relations and two BA degrees in International Relations and International Security Studies. He speaks Mandarin and is passionate about the social factors impacting the migrant communities' experience living in Australia.
Jcdi Secretariat
Penelope works on the Secretariat for the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion (JCDI) and the Diversity & Inclusion Justice Network (DIJN), providing administrative support for both bodies. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Political Science at the Australian National University and holds experience working as a paralegal in a family law firm. She is passionate about improving access to justice, and creating a legal system that is equitable and inclusive to all.
Communications & Policy Officer
Chai works across the SPG portfolio to deliver communications support, social media, and digital and print materials. He has experience working in communication, graphic design, and community engagement roles in tech start-ups, construction, and education sectors. Chai also works to support policy and research in the settlement. He holds a Master of Environmental Policy and Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Photography and Illustration Design.
Junior Policy Officer
Jimena supports the work of Harmony Alliance and leads the Young Migrant and Refugee Women Advisory Group. Her work is dedicated to advocating for the rights of migrant and refugee communities, with a particular focus on how gender, race, and class intersect in these issues. Jimena holds a Bachelors Degree in International Relations from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City and recently completed a Masters Degree in Development Studies at the University of Melbourne. Prior to joining SPG, she gained experience in journalism, humanitarian aid, and community development. Jimena's commitment to these causes drives her ongoing efforts to support and uplift marginalised communities.
Community Engagement Advisor
Charlie works across the SPG portfolio to deliver training, community consultation and engagement, and group facilitation. Working in group facilitation and community engagement for over a decade, Charlie is passionate about bridging gaps in communication through reaching common understanding. Bringing a expansive professional background, having worked in the arts industry, event and project management, and being a successful business owner, Charlie brings a grounded and pragmatic approach to training, consultation and engagement. Charlie has always been a proud advocate for marginalised community, voices and creating empathetic and culturally informed engagement strategies, communication and business practice.
Senior Web Developer & Designer
Luke is a web developer and designer with over five years of experience working in digital and creative agencies across the UK. He now brings his expertise to the SPG team, focusing on enhancing digital presence and purpose across various areas of the organisation. Passionate about crafting user-friendly and visually engaging websites, Luke aims to effectively communicate SPG's mission. He is dedicated to continuous improvement and collaborates closely with team members to ensure that digital initiatives align with organisational goals and resonate with the community.
Lead Software Engineer
Iain comes from a diverse academic background, holding an honours degree in Software Engineering, a Masters in Mathematics, as well as Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance. Having spent a decade running his own software consultancy, primarily focussed on developing for mobile technologies, he has joined SPG to help enhance and expand our offering of digital products. Iain is passionate about building high quality user experiences and loves harnessing the potential of software to benefit peoples lives. He has particular interest in the areas of health care, education and equality.
Chief Operating Officer
Chloe holds a degree in Accounting and has a solid background in health services management. Previously, she served as a manager at a health service organisation, where she developed her skills in operational efficiency and team leadership. Currently, Chloe is focused on driving organisational success and enhancing service delivery as the Chief Operating Officer. As a migrant herself, she is passionate about advocating for the experiences and voices of migrant communities.
Data & Information Support Officer - Multilingual & Digital Projects
Wei is part of the SPG's Communications and Engagement Team. She is responsible for maintaining and updating data and information across multiple Content Management Systems. She holds two masters degrees in education studies and musical arts, and a bachelors degree in Musicology. She is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. She is passionate about making positive changes to the journeys of migrants and refugees in Australia.
We also extend our respect to emerging leaders and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, acknowledging their enduring connection to the lands, waters, skies, and communities across this nation.
We honour the resilience, strength, and diversity of First Nations cultures and celebrate their ongoing contributions to society. Through our work, we strive to support equity, inclusion, and respect for the world’s oldest continuing cultures, understanding that this is fundamental to achieving social justice and a better future for all Australians. We acknowledge that sovereignty has never been ceded, and we affirm that the lands on which we operate always were, and always will be, Aboriginal land.