Sport Integrity Law Enforcement Conference: Speakers Biographies

Sharon Wood-Kenney is a proud Noongar Yamatji Yorga (woman) with ties across WA. A highly experienced Executive Cultural Navigation Consultant and a widely respected Community Leader. She has strong ties in both the Indigenous and other communities and is determined to make positive change and create opportunities for disadvantaged children, families and individuals. This includes establishment of self- determination platforms and initiatives.

Sharon has studied and is trained in Social Sciences, Aboriginal Affairs, Leadership, Human Services, Addiction, Health Promotion and Research Methodologies including GIS (Geographic information systems and mapping data), Mind Body Medicine Counselling, Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Facilitation. She shares techniques in self-healing, cultural and spiritual connections. Sharon’s award winning business, South West Kinships Cultural Immersions, is an Australian Tourism Accreditation Standard certified and is highly sought after for a range of unique quality experiences for living our best lives.

Sharon has designed and delivered cultural immersion training and practices to organisations such as WA Police & WA Prosecutors, Justice system visitors’ scheme, DLGSC, Education Department, WA Leadership Institute, WA Women’s Law Centre and WA Museum. She is the producer/ host of award winning, 100.9fm Noongar Radio show “Issues in Community”, developed during COVID to provide community with information from service providers, government, food suppliers and health professionals.

Sharon's leadership is widely recognised. She was inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work with youth and families aimed at reconciliation, community inclusion, mental health and wellbeing and self- determination platforms for Aboriginal families working alongside all people, cultures, religions and preferences for inclusion, equity, equality & justice for all peoples. In 2023 she was inducted in City of Joondalup Walk of Fame for Cultural Leadership for work over 20 years supporting reconciliation, community, local Government, sports and people. Sharon is a graduate of the WA Aboriginal Leadership Institute and Leadership WA.

Sharon has a focus on communicating positive culture and practices to the community and demonstrating recognition of the unique position of marginalised people, promoting respect and understanding and building relationships and partnerships. Her vision is walking respectfully in our Elder’s footprints, implementing actions and reconciliation initiatives for all, being respectful and mindful of different communities and people, and doing her job with integrity respect, and knowledge of strong leadership with intrinsic understandings of cultural protocols and practices.

CEO: Sport Integrity Australia

Dr Benson joined SIA as a member of the senior executive team in 2023, with agency responsibility for driving a nationally coordinated response to sport integrity issues in Australia. Dr Benson was the inaugural leader to the newly established Safety in Sport Division, strengthening the holistic integrity model to safeguard sport spanning all integrity threats.

Dr Benson established and led the agency’s policy response to prevent and respond to integrity threats to women and girls across all levels of sport in Australia through SIA’s Empowering Women & Girls in Sport Integrity Program. Prior to joining Sport Integrity Australia in 2023, Dr Benson was the Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police (AFP).  

In this role, she was responsible for executive leadership and management of the AFP Forensics Command providing strategic, operational and capability leadership across the AFP’s domestic and international policing responsibilities, and providing high-level strategic advice to the AFP Executive, Australian Government and external committees, including the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee, Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency and INTERPOL.  In 2019, Dr Benson coordinated Australia’s law enforcement support following the volcanic eruption on White Island in New Zealand.  

Dr Benson was also instrumental in the forensic and disaster victim identification support offered to the Netherlands and Ukraine following the 2014 MH17 disaster. Dr Benson studied at the University of Technology, Sydney and holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Science) – Forensic Analysis of Explosives using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (2009) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Chemistry – Forensic Science (2000).  

In 2021, she was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List; the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) Alumni Award for Excellence (Faculty of Science); and the UTS Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.

Professor of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences: University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney

Dr Michael Salter is Professor of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, where he is Director of the Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub. He is an internationally recognised expert on child sexual abuse, technology-facilitated abuse, and complex trauma, with a particular focus on prevention, perpetration, and systems reform.

Michael’s research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the dynamics, impacts, and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. He has published extensively, including two books, over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, and numerous book chapters, and his work has been widely cited across disciplines. His research has contributed to reframing child sexual abuse as a public health issue, influencing national and international policy.

Michael is a former President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and serves on the editorial boards of Child Abuse Review, Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, and Child Rights, Wellbeing & Technology.

Director: Law Enforcement Partnerships & Information Coordination Centre, Sport Integrity Australia

Alexandra Cooney is Director of Law Enforcement Partnerships and Information Coordination Centre at Sport Integrity Australia (SIA). She leads the agency’s Law Enforcement Partnership Program, working closely with Commonwealth, state and territory law enforcement and intelligence agencies to strengthen collaboration, enhance information sharing, and protect the integrity of sport across Australia.

An experienced senior public sector leader, Alex has held leadership roles across the NSW Police Force, NSW Ambulance, and the Department of Social Services prior to her current role at SIA. Her career has been defined by building strong cross-agency partnerships, leading complex operational environments, and delivering coordinated responses to risk in community and digital settings. 

Natalie Logan-Pye
National Integrity Manager:  Snow Australia and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA)

Nat Logan-Pye is the National Integrity Manager at the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia and Snow Australia, bringing almost 30 years of experience across NSW Police and Victoria Police. Rising to the rank of Acting Inspector, she has held frontline, specialist and leadership roles spanning witness protection, firearms and operational training, leadership development, and police education.

Alongside her policing career, Nat has an extensive sporting background, having represented state and national school teams, competed in the Australian National Volleyball League, and won eight Australasian Police Basketball Championships. She remains actively involved in basketball as a head coach, development coach and mentor, providing a unique perspective on integrity, safeguarding and leadership in sport. 

Det Sen Sgt Kelly Ellis 
Officer in Charge: Serious Offender Enforcement Squad, WA Police Force 

Scott Elliott
Complaints and Compliance Manager: Swimming Australia

Scott is the current National Complaints and Compliance Manager for Swimming Australia, which includes overseeing and reforming the coach professional standards framework. He commenced his career with Victoria Police including as an unsworn member working as an Intelligence Analyst embedded in the Homicide Squad, Violent Crime taskforces and Intelligence Units. He then moved into the investigations field at State and Federal level managing integrity functions and intelligence led frameworks. He is Fellow member of the Institute of Leaders and Managers.

Venetia Bennett
Barrister: Francis Burt Chambers

Venetia Bennett is a commercial barrister in Western Australia, experienced in providing strategic legal advice in complex, high value disputes. She is recognised as a leading legal practitioner in sports integrity, governance and disputes, acting as counsel, investigator, mediator or arbitrator. Venetia has chaired and been a member of disciplinary, grievance and appeals tribunals for state, national and international sports bodies. In 2020, she was appointed as an inaugural member of the National Sports Tribunal. Venetia is currently an independent member of the WADA Executive Committee and is on the WA Advisory Board for Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Riana Morellini
Assistant Director: Integrity Complaints, Sport Integrity Australia

Riana joined Sport Integrity Australia in 2023, working within the agency’s Integrity Complaints team who manage allegations of discrimination and breaches of the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy on behalf of sporting organisations who have adopted the National Integrity Framework. 

Riana has led multiple investigations at Sport Integrity Australia and has a particular interest in the practical ways law enforcement and Sport Integrity Australia can work together to help sporting organisations address safeguarding concerns and manage risk. Riana brings extensive experience in integrity, governance and investigations from previous roles as a National Integrity Manager and working closely with law enforcement in coordinating coronial investigations for the Department of Justice & Attorney General in Queensland. 

Det Sen Con Dominic Cross
Sexual Crime Unit, Crime Command, Queensland Police Service

Dominic has served as a sworn Queensland Police Service officer since 1997 and as a detective since 2005. His investigative experience spans the Drug Squad, Prostitution Task Force, organised crime and district Criminal Investigation Branch roles. For the past 10 years, he has worked in the Sexual Crime Unit, where his responsibilities include serving as a liaison with Sport Integrity Australia. 

Stephanie Colbran
Assistant Director: Strategic Intelligence and Development, Sport Integrity Australia

Stephanie is the Assistant Director in the Intelligence Team at Sport Integrity Australia. In her role, she produces strategic intelligence that supports Executive decision making and high-level operational planning. Stephanie has previously worked in intelligence and investigation roles across state law enforcement and federal regulators, contributing to investigations into sexual offences, serious online abuse and financial crimes. She has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Justice, Major in Criminology and Policing from Queensland University of Technology.

Lisa Purves
Director: Safeguarding, Sport Integrity Australia

Lisa joined Sport Integrity Australia in 2023 and currently heads up the agency’s safeguarding unit.  

A forward-thinking, passionate leader in her field, Lisa is responsible for the development of national safeguarding policies, resources and education to build the capacity of sporting organisations and individuals to provide safe sporting environments. Lisa advocates for change to the culture, structure and governance practices nationally in the wake of the Royal Commission’s findings of abuse in more than 4,000 institutions.

She believes applying the child safe standards and implementing policies that keep children safe requires strong leaders with clear vision and a culture change from the whole community. Previously, at the NSW Office of Children’s Guardian, Lisa was responsible for building the capability of organisations who work with children to implement the Child Safe Standards. She was also part of the team that implemented the Child Safe Standards in NSW and developed and administered the WWCC legislation in NSW, the first online system in Australia and the first to do continuous monitoring.

Det S/Sgt Brett Townsend
Child Assessment and Interview Team, WA Police Force

Simon Devine
National Integrity Manager: Water Polo Australia Ltd

Simon Devine has worked in the sports industry for almost 2 decades, across community sport, competitions, governance and integrity. After a long career within the AFL community, Simon moved into water polo in 2022 as CEO of Water Polo Victoria. In 2025 he became the National Integrity Manager at Water Polo Australia, leading the sport’s national approach to integrity, safeguarding, education and complaint management. 

Lauren Halliwell 
General Manager: Integrity and Security, Basketball Australia

As the General Manager of Integrity and Security at Basketball Australia, Lauren leads a national team responsible for protecting the integrity and safety of the sport. Her role spans a broad portfolio across integrity and security, including child safeguarding, gambling, and match-fixing, respectful behaviours, anti-doping, and social media abuse, alongside the planning and delivery of risk assessments and security measures for national and international events. With over a decade of experience in policing, Lauren brings a strong investigative and people-first approach to her work. She is focused on supporting her team and driving practical, education-led outcomes that strengthen culture and create safe, fair environments across the game.