2026 National Indigenous Black Death in Custody Conference

Dr. Amber R. Logan is a traditional Kahungunu Māori wahine, a New Zealand Health Psychologist and Doctoral Fellow in Public Health at Otago University. She teaches health psychology course work at the University of Auckland & Otago University and is well-known in New Zealand for her work in methamphetamine education and community activism. She is a consummate grant writer, health services evaluator and health services program designer. She has presented extensively in Australia, Canada, and the USA at Harvard University, the University of Washington, and to the US Federal Government.

Dr. Joseph B. Stone, PhD is an Anasaki-pikuni ceremonialist and traditionalist and member of the OKKAN (Sundance), the Last Star Thunder Medicine Pipe and Beaver Lodge. Dr. Stone works at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga – a Kaupapa Māori Health Provider; Awhina Whanu Family Services, and the Napier Family Centre all located in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He has clinical experience with adult prisoners & corrections and juvenile justice in both New Zealand and USA. He is affiliated with the National Centre on Trauma and Project Making Medicine – Indian Health Service Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse at Oklahoma State University. He has presented to, and served as consultant to, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs of Native Youth Suicide. Dr. Stone’s publications include articles on trauma, suicide, and other cultural & behavioural issues.

Bernice Hookey’s family lineage traces back to the Waanyi people from the Lower Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. She embodies courage despite the fear that occasionally arises. As a solo mother, aunty, sister, cousin, colleague, and friend, she is deeply passionate about challenging the status quo.

An accomplished Lead Facilitator for an Indigenous National Women’s Empowerment program via Tranby, Bernice is also the Founder of MZB Empowerment. She is widely recognized as a Changemaker, Difference Maker, and Cycle Breaker, as well as a published author, mentor, and multi-award winner. Her achievements include being a finalist for national and international awards that celebrate Indigenous Excellence and Leadership.

Bernice has overcome challenges related to disempowerment, feelings of unworthiness, and well-being depreciation, navigating limited opportunities and barriers to self-expression within cultural spaces. Through experiential learning, she has lived these realities firsthand and continues to thrive.

As both a participant and now a Fellow of a globally recognized top 10 leadership program, Bernice has developed invaluable leadership skills that have strengthened her confidence. These skills, combined with her grassroots-led leadership approach, drive her mission to advance generational equity. Above all, she remains a steadfast cheerleader for families and communities, inspiring those around her with her unwavering dedication and vision.

Joedie Saunders a local Biripi woman and artist, has been creating contemporary Aboriginal art for over 30 years. Her artworks deeply reflect her culture, stories of her country, and a range of emotions and feelings. Joedie is passionate about sharing her art and loves seeing the connections others make with her creations.

As a proud Biripi woman, she draw strength from her roots – a lineage of resilient mountain women, the Wimara, known for their strength and wisdom. Joedie worked tirelessly in juvenile justice and child protection, confronting the harsh realities of sexual abuse in remote communities.Transitioning into cultural heritage conservation, she spent years advocating for our land and traditions, eventually becoming the first woman CEO of the Land Council in Taree. Currently, she works as Manager of Community Engagement & Investment at the Department of Premier & Cabinet and felt privileged to continue the work of her late brother, advocating for the revival and preservation of Aboriginal languages statewide. It's a tribute to his legacy and our shared dream of cultural preservation. Joedie stated, 'In everything I do, I pay homage to my family, my community, our culture, and our land. Together, let's walk forward, honoring the past and shaping a brighter future'. Joedie is a mother of two beautiful boys.

Melissa Clarke is a Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna and Wirangu woman and a nationally recognised Aboriginal justice leader. She is Strategic Director of First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence (FNAAFV), the national peak body representing the Family Violence Prevention and Legal Services (FVPLS) sector. FVPLS’ are Australia’s only specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled legal and frontline support services dedicated exclusively to supporting their communities impacted by domestic, family, and sexual violence.

Melissa brings more than 25 years’ experience across policing, government, and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations. She is the former Acting General Manager of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) and served for 14 years as a police officer with South Australia Police before moving into senior roles in justice policy and advocacy. Her prior roles include General Manager of Youth Justice Strategy, Policy and Reporting at the South Australian Department of Human Services, Director of Aboriginal Services at the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement, and Children’s Advocate with the South Australian Guardian for Children and Young People. She has also contributed nationally as an Independent member of the Justice Policy Partnership.

Drawing on experience across frontline policing, government policy, and community advocacy, Melissa’s work centres on cultural authority, dignity and purpose in justice reform; preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody, strengthening justice system accountability, and securing better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly women, children, and families.

Nerita Waight is a proud Yorta Yorta and Narrandjeri woman with Taungurung connections. She is CEO of VALS, and is an experienced solicitor with a demonstrated history of working in the legal and community services industry. Prior to becoming CEO, Nerita had experience across several teams in the organisation including family and children’s law, as well as policy and advocacy. In 2017, Nerita established Balit Ngulu, a specialist legal service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples.

As CEO, Nerita has overseen the establishment of our dedicated youth legal practice Balit Ngulu and our Wirraway Police and Prison Accountability Practice which has supported clients on several high-profile Coronial Inquests, alongside the strengthening of VALS’ advocacy.

Nerita is also Deputy Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), elected member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria for Metropolitan Melbourne, Treaty Negotiator and Treaty Co-Convenor. She is an independent member of the Justice Policy Partnership (established under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap) and Victorian Representative on the Joint Council. She has served on the boards of several organisations including Elizabeth Morgan House, Bubup Wilam, and the Australia Community Support Organisation.

Dr Raylene Nixon is a Gunggari woman from SW Qld, she is a Senior Lecturer and researcher whose work focuses on Indigenous deaths in custody, systemic racism, and justice reform. Informed by lived experience and community-led truth-telling, her scholarship and advocacy seek to strengthen accountability and advance culturally grounded reform following the death of her son in police custody in 2021.

Troy Williamson is a Yuin man and former Manager of the Coroners Court of Victoria’s Koori Engagement Unit (CKEU), recognised as the first Aboriginal family engagement coordinator to a coronial jurisdiction in Australia. In that role he led culturally safe practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families—walking the line between law and lore so the Court could investigate with rigor while honouring sorry business, Country and community. From late 2019, Troy helped embed and operationalise Practice Direction 6 of 2020 – Indigenous Deaths in Custody, a landmark protocol released by State Coroner Judge John Cain on 22 September 2020 to strengthen how Victoria investigates Aboriginal deaths in custody. PD6 formalised culturally safe steps that the CKEU had pioneered, including: coroner attendance at the scene where practicable; contacting the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) within 48 hours; convening a directions hearing within 28 days; preparing a cultural brief for the investigating coroner; and conducting hearings in culturally appropriate ways (acknowledgement of Country, smoking ceremony, and the respectful use or avoidance of names/images). Troy’s leadership ensured these commitments became everyday practice for staff and coroners, not just policy on paper. In the courtroom and across investigations, Troy championed simple but powerful changes—like replacing “death” with “passing” in Court communications, organising culturally appropriate autopsy arrangements (including consideration of pathologist gender), and prioritising swift return to Country for ceremony and grief. He was often among the first to reach out to families, staying alongside them through the investigation, inquest and findings so mob had voice, respect and culturally informed support at every step.

Troy’s impact also extended to prevention and evidence. Working with the Coroners Prevention Unit, he helped drive data releases that lifted the visibility of Aboriginal passings and risk factors—such as analyses of suicides among Aboriginal people in Victoria (2018–2021) and fatal overdoses (2018–2021)—so services and communities could respond with culturally competent, life‑saving action. Community voices have publicly acknowledged Troy’s role in making coronial systems safer for mob—applauding his and the Court’s reforms while calling for sustained resourcing and Aboriginal leadership across the justice system.

Dr Aunty Roslyn Sackley is a proud Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri woman and a nationally respected educator and advocate. One of the first Aboriginal women with disability to complete a university degree, she has taught across schools, TAFE and universities, and has led decades of influential work in disability rights, cultural safety and social justice.

Dr Sharon Kerr is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne with more than 25 years’ experience in disability inclusion . A non‑Indigenous woman, she sees herself as a fellow camper working alongside Indigenous researchers advancing the life opportunities for those living with disability. Her PhD, from the University of Sydney was supervised by Professor John Gilroy and was titled: White Questions — Black Answers: Effective Inclusion of Indigenous Students with a Disability into Higher Education in Australia