About us

Women and Mentoring (WAM) offer a unique, early intervention program that supports women and non-binary people in contact with the legal system by matching them individually with a supportive mentor. The volunteer mentors are trained and resourced to provide appropriate support to the program participants, to share their skills and to contribute to the wider community.

WAM began operating in the City of Yarra (in Melbourne) working with the Neighbourhood Justice Centre in 2009, and in 2015 received funding from the Melbourne Women’s Fund to replicate the program in the Sunshine Magistrates Court precinct.

With recurrent philanthropic funding, we have been able to expand our service area to provide support to more criminalised women who experience significant challenges in their life. Since 2022, with state government funding, we can now receive referrals for women across all metropolitan Melbourne areas. In 2023 we began accepting referrals from the Ballarat area. Referrals for women outside metro Melbourne and Ballarat may also be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the location and mentor availability. Remote mentoring may also be offered to women in other regional locations.

Our 2021 Evaluation Report demonstrates that engagement with a mentor has made a significant positive difference to the participants’ confidence, coping mechanisms and capacity to respond to their legal matters and address the issues that underlie their offending. The vast majority of the participants have avoided a prison sentence and have not re-offended.

WAM has been fortunate to rely on strong connections and partnerships to deliver this unique and gender-responsive initiative. We welcome interest and support from the community in mentoring and skilled volunteer roles. We work collaboratively with many partners in the health justice and community services sector for referrals.

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OUR BOARD

  • Vacant

    Chair

    To be appointed soon.

  • Amanda Thornton

    Deputy Chair

    Amanda is a non-profit sector professional with qualifications and broad expertise in philanthropy, fundraising, and organisation and program development, governance and evaluation. Her experience spans leadership roles across areas of need including women and families, health, homelessness, food insecurity, and visual arts.
    Amanda is passionate about fairness, equality and empowerment, collaborative problem-solving, skills and knowledge-sharing, and organisational learning and improvement.
    Since joining the Board in 2019, Amanda has chaired the Fundraising & Marketing Committee, and been a part of the Governance and Nominations committees.

  • Sabina Ahmed

    Director/ Company Secretary

    Sabina Ahmed is an investment leader, mentor, and advocate for migrant women, with extensive experience across public and private markets. As the first female portfolio manager in Pakistan’s asset management sector, she built her career on resilience, disciplined practice, and ethical leadership.
    In Australia, Sabina has held senior roles in funds management, portfolio construction, and strategic asset allocation, with a strong focus on governance and purpose-driven investing. She also mentors migrant women and young female finance students, supporting their confidence and pathways into leadership. At WAM, Sabina brings expertise in governance, strategic thinking, and community engagement, driven by her belief that diverse leadership creates stronger, more equitable organisations.

  • Tamsin Mildenhall

    Director

    Tamsin is an experienced criminal defence lawyer having worked in both the private and Government sectors. Currently, she is the Manager of the Summary Crime team at Victoria Legal Aid, working with sector partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality legal services as well as a fair and efficient justice system. She is a Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) Accredited Criminal Law and Children's Law Specialist and a member of the LIV Children's Law Specialisation advisory Committee.

  • Trevor Irwin

    Director

    Trevor is an experienced accountant with a background in corporate, university and not-for-profit sectors. He is a CPA, has an MBA and is an Australian law graduate (juris doctor).

  • Amber O'Meara

    Director

    With two decades’ experience in communications, marketing, and innovation, Amber brings strategic insight and a deep commitment to social impact. At MinterEllison, Amber partners with Purpose Leads, Pro Bono, and Social Impact teams to deliver purpose-driven initiatives. Amber is passionate about aligning her corporate skills with community needs to support women meaningfully.

  • Emily Haddow

    Director

    Emily Haddow is a justice policy specialist and career public servant with experience across custodial operations, community corrections, and the courts. She combines academic training in criminology, public policy, and forensic mental health with practical expertise in strategic reform and project delivery. Her work across operational settings, health services, and social policy — in Australia and abroad — gives her broad insight into justice systems and their challenges.
    Emily is skilled in managing complex change and building partnerships across government, private enterprise, and the community sector. She is currently a Community Visitor with the Office of the Public Advocate and has a particular interest in how social disadvantage, marginalisation, and perceptions of deviance shape government responses to crime.

  • Allison Wetzels

    Director

    Allison is a senior finance executive with extensive experience leading financial strategy, governance, and organisational performance across large and complex settings. She provides high-level financial and strategic advice to boards and executive teams, with a strong focus on building financial capability across organisations to support long-term objectives.
    Allison has held multiple senior leadership roles within government, including overseeing financial management, reporting, and corporate finance functions. Earlier in her career, she worked in professional services, supporting not-for-profit and public sector clients with board reporting, financial planning, and strategic decision-making.
    Allison is committed to financial stewardship that enables social impact. She is a CPA and holds a Master of Commerce (Accounting and Law) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Hons).

  • Susan Short

    Director

    Susan is an experienced finance, program, and project management professional who spent much of her career in large corporate and financial institutions. In 2023, she transitioned from the corporate sector to focus on creating greater social impact and promoting wellbeing.
    She now works part-time with a not-for-profit organisation, facilitating workplace-based mentoring programs that connect senior school students with industry professionals. Susan is also a qualified nutritionist and health coach, and she mentors both women re-entering the workforce and those navigating wellness and lifestyle challenges. Combining corporate expertise with a passion for people development and health, Susan brings a balanced, human-centred approach to helping others build confidence, clarity, and direction in both their professional and personal lives.

OUR TEAM