Dr Jennifer Bourgeois

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Texas Southern University, United States

Prosecutorial decision-making, and the intersection of public health and justice. She examines research-driven interventions to address risk factors linked to substance use, communicable and chronic diseases, and related comorbidities among justice-impacted populations. Her current projects focus on vicarious trauma among violence interrupters, maternal and infant health disparities, and the long-term health and social consequences of incarceration for families and communities. Her work is grounded in a commitment to translating research into actionable strategies that improve outcomes and advance health equity.

Dr Destiny Tolliver

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, United States

Dr. Destiny Tolliver is a pediatrician and health services researcher at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center. She attended Yale University as an undergraduate before earning her MD from the Morehouse School of Medicine. She then completed residency in the Boston Combined Residency Program in Pediatrics at the Boston Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. After chief residency, she completed the National Clinician Scholars Program at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Tolliver then returned to Boston as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. Her research focuses on addressing the health impacts of children and families impacted by criminal legal system involvement.

Amy Murphy

Project Director, George Mason University, United States

Zahra Rennie

PhD Student, University of Waikato, New Zealand

Zahra Rennie is a PhD student in psychology at the University of Waikato. Her research and studies have focused on correctional intervention, risk assessment, and intervention evaluation. Her current PhD research examines a correctional assessment tool used to guide intervention decisions, including the tool’s validity and the typical combinations of intervention needs it identifies. Throughout her academic career, she has also contributed to several other projects in the criminal justice area. These contributions include surveying hundreds of people in New Zealand prisons about their experiences of violence and wellbeing, exploring how high court judges justify reduced sentences for adverse life circumstances, and assessing the reporting of responsivity adaptations in intervention evaluations.

Simon Davies

Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Simon Davies completed his PhD in Forensic Psychology at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. He also holds a law degree and is a registered clinical psychologist with experience working in correctional settings for Ara Poutama Aotearoa (New Zealand Department of Corrections). He joined the School of Psychological Sciences in 2024. His research to date has primarily focused on the areas of correctional risk assessment, rehabilitation, and community supervision, reflecting a broader interest in conducting applied research that aims to further the understanding of pathways into and out of criminal behaviour.

Dr Julia Yesberg

Senior Lecturer, Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Julia received her PhD in Forensic Psychology at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. In 2019 she was awarded an Economic and Social Research Council New Investigator Grant which she completed in the Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science at University College London. Julia joined the School of Psychological Sciences at Te Herenga Waka in 2024 where she teaches on under-graduate and post-graduate courses, including the MSc in Forensic Psychology. Her current research focuses on exploring public attitudes toward the criminal justice system, with a particular focus on the psychological factors that underpin support for various policies and practices. A central theme across her work is procedural justice – how perceptions of fairness and institutional conduct influence attitudes and behaviours. At the heart of her research is a commitment to improving the experiences and outcomes of individuals within the justice system.

Dr Tazeen Majeed

Senior academic and researcher, University of Newcastle, Australia

Professor Elizabeth Sullivan

Professor of Health Equity, University of Newcastle, Australia

Dr Jo Taylor

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Newcastle, Australia

Dr Jo Taylor is a dedicated Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Newcastle. She is a highly accomplished mixed methods, public health specialist who has made significant contributions to improving the health outcomes and wellbeing of vulnerable populations and communities, including Aboriginal women in contact with the criminal justice system. Dr Taylor’s research is distinguished by her multidisciplinary and collaborative partnering with government and non-government organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, consumer groups and community. Her research centres on critical issues such as health equity and access, co-design, models of service delivery, health systems, innovative care models, prevention strategies, implementation, effectiveness and evaluation. Dr Taylor's research has led to significant improvements in healthcare practices and policies, particularly for vulnerable populations, through innovative public health strategies and collaborative projects. Collaborating with esteemed partners such as the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network, Corrective Services NSW, Cancer Council NSW and Cancer Council Victoria.  Jo's research delivers high-quality, tangible outcomes that impact communities and healthcare systems. Dr Taylor has also made contributions to the Global Burden of Disease studies that informs future policy, resource allocation and health systems planning.

Sophie Ransom

Principal Policy and Project Officer, Department for Correctional Services South Australia, Australia

Sophie Ransom has worked in the justice and public health sectors for over twenty-five years, undertaking research, evaluation, policy and project work. She has published papers on topics including therapeutic responses to justice-involved people, vehicle theft prevention and smoke-free areas. Sophie has worked at the South Australian Department for Correctional Services for the past six years. Her research and evaluation projects include evaluations of criminogenic rehabilitation programs, validation studies of criminogenic risk assessment tools and evaluations of cultural and employment support programs for correctional clients.

Dr Kevin Sammut Henwood

Principle Forensic Psychologist, University of Malta, Malta

Dr. Yilma Woldgabreal

Principal Advisor, African Australian Services Project, Department for Correctional Services, Australia

Yilma Woldgabreal, PhD in Psychology, has dedicated over 25 years of service with the Department for Correctional Services in South Australia, and in 2024, he was awarded the National Australian Corrections Medal for his outstanding contributions. Throughout his career, Yilma has held various key roles ranging from frontline work to senior management in community corrections. Since 2016, Yilma has concentrated on rehabilitation programs development and delivery. Yilma also holds Adjunct Academic Status at Flinders University, published broadly, and his research interest includes forensic psychology risk assessment, challenges facing ethnic minorities within the criminal justice system, and strength-based interventions with justice-involved people.