WDV Appoints Sector Leader for its Next Phase of Impact

The Board of Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Trishima (Trish) Mitra-Kahn as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), commencing 5th January 2026. Dr. Mitra-Kahn’s appointment follows an extensive search led by executive recruitment firm Brooker Consulting and a rigorous selection process.

WDV Chairpersons’ Helena Jordan and Marlena Raymond said: “Dr. Mitra-Kahn is an exceptional appointment. Trish is a proud Disabled Woman of Colour with a proven commitment to intersectional feminist practice and has a strong values alignment to WDV. Throughout her career, she has championed global, federal and state-based initiatives on preventing and responding to gender-based violence and on improving community health and wellbeing. With her policy nous, commercial acumen, and practitioner roots, the Board believe she is well placed to steer the organisation into its fourth decade.”

Dr. Mitra-Kahn is currently a Director at Safe Steps (Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response service as well as a specialist family violence service provider for People with Disabilities). She was previously Director of Research and Planning at Family Safety Victoria where she delivered significant Royal Commission initiatives and co-led Victoria’s input into the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. She has also held high-level executive roles in the family violence sector including as CEO of the Luke Batty Foundation and Deputy CEO of Domestic Violence NSW.

Dr. Mitra-Kahn started her executive career as Director-Research at ANROWS: Australia’s national research organisation guiding policy and practice to reduce violence against women and children. At ANROWS, she led the organisation’s collaboration on Change the Story – Australia’s national evidence-based framework to guide a coordinated and effective approach to preventing violence against women and children. Alongside these roles, as a HR consultant, she has advised national and statewide Disabled People Organisations on talent acquisition and management.

Dr. Mitra-Kahn said: “It is an honour to take up this role alongside such a skilled staff team, dedicated Board, and active membership. As a Disabled woman, I am committed to learning from and amplifying the expertise of our diverse community, who for decades have led the way on ensuring we can lead safe and thriving lives. I look forward to being guided by our members’ and community’s tenacity and wisdom for I know that collectively, we hold the solutions.”

Dr. Mitra-Kahn will be succeeding Julie Kun, who has been WDV’s Acting CEO since October 2024. The Board extends its deepest gratitude and warm congratulations to Julie for her transformational leadership. WDV Chairpersons’ Helena Jordan and Marlena Raymond said: “under Julie’s leadership, WDV has built our profit for purpose impact work and nurtured our staff’s skills and experiences to fuel authentic, mission-aligned contributions. Julie has worked with staff to build infrastructure and ways of working to amplify our reach and pursue values-driven initiatives that deliver lasting social change.”

Acting CEO Julie Kun thanked the Board and staff and added: “I am thrilled that someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Dr. Mitra-Kahn is stepping into the CEO role. I am confident WDV will be in excellent hands.”

The Board looks forward to an exciting time of growing WDV’s impact and unique Statewide footprint for women and gender diverse Victorians with disabilities.