Gillian is the founder and Director of Sustainability Australia and has specialised in Social Sustainability since 2002. Gillian is a Sociologist and is currently working in the area of Complex Family Trauma and Violence as a consultant and advocate. Gillian’s research has focused on understanding the Ecological approach of Human Development and the Interpersonal Neurobiological systems and structures (within Families and Institutions) that contribute towards Violence and Intergenerational Abuse. She uses a multi-disciplinary approach in her work. Gillian is currently writing a book on Family and Institutional Violence.

EXPERIENCE

• Researcher – Second National Health and Wellbeing Study for Families and Children and The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey.
• Network Manager – The Deakin Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility project; providing Philanthropic and Corporate clients with cutting edge research to assist in their CSR aims.
• Research Fellow and Field Manager – ARC Community Engagement project; School of International and Political Studies, Deakin University.
• Operational Manager (Employment Portfolio) – The Northern Territory National Emergency Response into remote Indigenous communities. Northern Territory and Victoria – Case management of children and young people who had experienced sexual abuse and homelessness.
• Founder and Executive Director – The Victorian Collaboration Council; designing the foundational frameworks for Community Capacity Building and Region Renewal programs for the Victorian State Government, (Evaluation carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers).
• Masters in Public Policy, Lecturer in Health Policy and Public Policy – Deakin University.
• Advisor and Analyst – Australian Youth Foundation; highlighting the connections between Domestic Violence and Homelessness.
• Board positions in the not-for-profit sector and an earlier career in the private sector.

Testimonials

Gillian is a person of the highest integrity…with a very strong commitment to social justice and human rights…Gillian wrote a very creative and innovative thesis (on the) psychological impacts which homelessness has on adolescents. She also produced a review on a national programme for women and children who had experienced domestic violence…The work she did then has significantly influenced a number of reforms in the way we assist these individuals.
Brian Burdekin AO
Ex Australian Federal Human Rights Commissioner
Professor, Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Lund University, Sweden
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Gillian has performed at a very high standard.. Her previous operational project management experiences and research into.. indigenous employment, youth mental health and youth homelessness, assisted her in working effectively with senior managers of corporations, philanthropic groups and non-profit organisations… Gillian is a very committed person who is able to build strong relationships with different groups.  She has been a valued member of Deakin University.
Associate Professor Matthew Clarke
Deputy Head, School of International and Political Studies, Deakin University.
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I have had the pleasure to know Gillian Rivers since July 2002 through her research and advisory work with Sustainability Australia and her contacts with our PwC Melbourne office.  I have experienced Gillian as a person with a broad intellectual background and the curiosity and openness to explore and learn about new areas.  She has highly developed skills when dealing with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.
Dr. Thomas Scheiwiller
Ex Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Zurich Switzerland
Scheiwiller Impacts, Zurich Switzerland