Over 30 years of combined public and private sector experience in New South Wales and Queensland, Donna has worked across a broad range of human services sectors, including youth justice, disability, forensic disability, domestic and family violence, child protection, and mental health. She has held senior clinical and executive roles, including Senior Forensic Clinician, Clinical Director, and Senior Executive Director.

As a values-driven and experienced senior executive with the Queensland Government, Donna led the design and implementation of complex, large-scale national and state-based reforms. These included the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the establishment of Queensland’s Forensic Disability Service System — both critical initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for highly vulnerable populations.

In 2020, Donna joined Life Without Barriers as the inaugural Executive Director, Safeguards, leading strategic safeguarding initiatives across Disability, Child, Youth & Family, Immigration, and Aged Care services. In 2024, she was seconded into the new role of Chief Safeguarding and Quality Governance Officer, responsible for enterprise-wide safeguarding, clinical & regulatory governance, and quality assurance. Donna plays a key leadership role in ensuring the organisation’s services uphold human rights, are informed by lived experience, and reflect a culture of continuous improvement.