Friends with Dignity
Meet the team
Manuela Whitford
CEO / Founder
Manuela Whitford, married, mother of 3, and “Granny” to 1 is passionate and committed to helping others.
Born in Mozambique and grew up in South Africa. A Registered Nurse of over 25yrs, she has always made time to give back to her Community in one way or another.
Having immigrated to Australia in 2010, leaving family and lifelong friends, Manuela was determined to make Australia home for her and her immediate family. Securing a job with Queensland Health within the correctional services, Manuela soon realised she needed to StepUp and help people impacted by Domestic Violence.
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This resulted in her Founding her original organisation, Assist A Sista in 2012 that later evolved to become Friends with Dignity in 2015. Manuela is no stranger to violence, having experienced an horrific event whilst in South Africa, prompting her immigration. She is determined and committed to ensure everyone’s right to feeling safe.
Working full-time as a Clinical Nurse in the Addictions and Mental Health sector have broadened her knowledge and experience on how resilient people really are!
Through collaboration and community engagement, so much can be done!
One of her favourite African proverbs: Alone you go faster, Together you go further
Both saddened and infuriated at the sheer number of incidences and witnessing the debilitating effects not only to Victim-Victim-survivors but their families, friends and community, Manuela proudly Stands Up and Speaks Out against Domestic and Family Violence.
Manuela proudly leads, and jointly works with, equally passionate volunteers to make a difference to the lives of so many individuals. Manuela is inspired by people and in awe of their resilience, which drives her to continue making a difference.
Volunteering, for Manuela, has become a vocation that she is truly committed to. She has reflected on how what she has created has been life changing, not only for the people she assists, but also to the volunteers, her family and herself alike.
” I look forward to the day my Voluntary position becomes redundant. But, until then, I and the Friends with Dignity crew will continue to StepUp, SpeakOut and Support those affected by Domestic Violence”.
Philip Jackson
COO
Philip (PJ) is an experienced People & Culture leader with over 15 years’ experience across corporate and not-for-profit sectors in Australia and the UK. PJ specialises in diversity, equity, inclusion, and workplace culture & wellbeing, with a strong background in strategic HR, organisational change, governance, and employee engagement.
Until recently, PJ was Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at QIC, where he led the organisation’s global DEI strategy, chaired the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, and founded QPride, QIC’s LGBTQ+ employee network. His leadership resulted in national recognition including Inclusive Employer status by the Diversity Council of Australia, and accreditation as a Family Friendly and Mental Health First Aid Skilled Workplace.
PJ also serves as National Director (Finances) at Pride in Law, Australia’s LGBTIQA+ law association. He has led improvements to financial systems, supported constitutional reform, and strengthened the organisation’s sponsorship and operational practices. PJ has also held a Director role with Brisbane Coffee Brigade, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness, where he served on the Board and as Secretary across two terms.
Amy O'Rourke
Finance Manager
Amy started her career as an accountant in the UK at PwC and later, BDO. She brings six years of experience in financial audit, compliance, and risk advisory services, working closely with clients to provide assurance over various business processes across a wide range of industries, including not-for-profits.
Amy is really excited to have the opportunity to work at FWD and contribute to the positive impact the charity is making in people’s lives. She is also looking forward to working with the rest of the team and learning from everyone as we work together towards the organisation’s mission.
Nicole Madigan
Non-Executive Director
Nicole Madigan is a widely published journalist, editor, and content specialist, with more than 20 years’ experience in the media and communications industries. Her work is frequently published in high-profile print and online publications, including The Australian, The Age, The Courier Mail, Sunday Life, The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, afr.com.au, The CEO Magazine, The CFO Magazine, and many others. She is a former on-air reporter with Channel Nine, and has managed communication and content projects for numerous organisations of various sizes, including EML Group, The Real Estate Institute of Queensland, and Charles Darwin University.
She is the author of two children’s books, and is an ambassador for Australia Reads, The Miracle Babies Foundation and domestic violence advocacy group, My Red Flags.
Nicole has a passionate interest in domestic violence and family law, writing frequently on these and related topics, in the hope of raising awareness and evoking change.
Jack Bruce
Board Member
Jack brings over 15 years of advisory experience across diverse sectors, including private industry, government, defence and small to medium business. With a strong background in commercial management, strategy, performance improvement, and technology program delivery, Jack excels at navigating complex stakeholder groups to craft impactful change to the organisations he works with.
As a certified chartered accountant, Jack is adept in financial performance improvement and planning, ensuring informed decision-making and sustainable growth through financial and operational oversight. His strategic insight and leadership will support Friends with Dignity’s mission by enhancing operational capabilities and fostering key partnerships to drive impactful service delivery.
Jack is a advocate for making a positive impact in the fight against domestic violence in Australia. He is committed to using his skills and experience to support meaningful change, representing those affected and helping to create safe, supportive environments for survivors. Jack is motivated to support the vision of a future where dignity, respect, and safety are a reality for all.
Renee Henville
National HR Manager
Since February 2021 Renee Henville has been engaged as the National Human Resources Manager for Friends With Dignity.
In this position, Renee overseas the HR and Volunteer Coordinator team to implement policies, procedures and continually develop the internal culture of Friends With Dignity.
Renee has over 20 years of experience as a Human Resources Professional. In 2011 Renee founded Integrated Human Resourcing, an outsourced HR and Recruitment firm based on the Gold Coast.
Renee holds a Bachelor of Business : Organisational Psychology and Human Resources majors and DISC Advanced Accreditation. She loves supporting business to improve workplace culture and engagement.
In 2018 Renee was an Awardee of Merit in the Gold Coast Women in Business Awards, 2019 became a Small Business Mentor with the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training; and in 2021 Integrated Human Resourcing was a monthly winner of Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards.
Linda Draper
National Scholarships Manager
Linda joined the Friends with Dignity team in November 2023, whilst still devoting her time to various organisations within the community. Backed with 25 years of Procurement experience in corporate settings, Linda has provided a can-do attitude. As she steps into semi-retirement, Linda will enjoy improving her golf swing and her water colour painting techniques.
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With a passion for Kinesiology and Life Coaching, Linda is passionate about understanding the emotional and physical needs of families who are experiencing Domestic Violence.
Recently, Linda has transitioned into the role of Little Friends Scholarship Program Manager and is truly excited about the “Why” behind this program. As a mum herself, Linda understands how important education is for our Little Friends and is committed to ensuring that every child impacted by Domestic and Family Violence, will still be able to further their education and reach their full potential.
Georgia Benedetti
Marketing and Communications Manager
Georgia joined Friends with Dignity as a volunteer before stepping into the role of Marketing and Communications Coordinator.
Based in Melbourne, she brings experience from the agency world, specialising in marketing, social media, communications, and PR.
In this role, Georgia leads marketing and communications initiatives, working to amplify Friends with Dignity’s message and engage supporters through creative and strategic storytelling.
Passionate about using her skills for impact, Georgia is excited to contribute to the growth and awareness of Friends with Dignity and help drive meaningful change.
Steven Buckell
Warehouse and Logistics Manager
Steven Buckell joined Friends with Dignity as our Warehouse Operations Manager, based at our Queensland Warehouse. With more than 20 years of experience across warehousing and logistics, Steven brings extensive operational knowledge and a hands-on approach to supporting our programs and warehouse operations.
Throughout his career, Steven has worked across fast-moving consumer goods, as well as the secure handling and disposal of medical and industrial waste, including sensitive pharmaceuticals, confidential documents and regulated materials.
Passionate about creating efficient systems and supporting teams, Steven plays an important role in helping ensure essential items and resources reach families impacted by domestic and family violence.
Through personal connections to foster care and support services, Steven has developed a strong understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and families, further strengthening his commitment to meaningful community impact.
Tamara Ashby
National Programs and Volunteer Manager
Tamara Ashby recently joined Friends with Dignity as our Volunteer & Program Coordinator, where she works closely with volunteers across Australia to support the delivery of our programs and services.
Based on the Gold Coast, Tamara is currently studying Finance at university and brings a warm, community-focused approach to her role. Working alongside our programs team, she helps support volunteer engagement and coordination across the organisation.
Tamara is passionate about connecting with people and is excited to continue getting to know our incredible volunteer community.
Rosemary Macchiavelli
National Community Engagements Manager
Rosemary is responsible for the management of the Community Engagement Team. The community engagement portfolio comprises of:
Independent Fundraising – pecuniary and non-pecuniary.
Community engagement coordinating – actively engaging with the community by attending fundraisers, events, public speaking and any other creative method to engage with members of the community and promote FWD brand.
Drives programming – comprises of individual, workplaces/organisations collecting items to furnish the sanctuaries (homes), the drives can be known as the laundry, bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen drive. Items are donated for a specific room ready for a family to move into. CE team often coordinates these drives with the logistics/donations team to help store in the warehouse ready for our volunteers to get together and furnish one of the sanctuaries.
There is also the major annual drives known as the Christmas gifting for friends drive and the back to school drive whereby individuals and organisations participate in gifting for adults and children.
Joe Dageforde
Ambassador
Joe, founder of 4 Shore Projects, is a valued ambassador for Friends with Dignity, bringing a deep personal commitment to supporting those impacted by domestic family violence. With a journey that has taken him from a challenging upbringing in ‘The Children of God’ cult to becoming a respected figure in the construction industry, Joe’s story is one of resilience, dedication, and a desire to make a positive impact.
His experiences have fueled a passion for helping adults and children rebuild their lives, aligning perfectly with our mission at Friends with Dignity. Joe’s story serves as a testament to the power of overcoming adversity with kindness, respect, and transparency.
Sima Mala
Ambassador
Sima is a Forensic Toxicology Analyst and an internationally published model and accessories designer, Sima found her calling with Friends with Dignity at our 2017 High Tea event. The cause resonated with her deeply due to her personal experiences witnessing domestic violence from a young age.
Sima’s commitment goes beyond passive support; she has actively raised awareness about domestic violence through her creative work. Her passion project involves designing and selling headwear, the proceeds from which help set up Sanctuaries for victim-victim-survivors. For Sima, this isn’t just charity work, it’s her life mission.
Bec Rodriguez
Ambassador
Bec Rodriguez is an Australian professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer, best known for her time in the UFC, Invicta, and as the first female World Champion in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
Raised in Tasmania, Bec began martial arts in her 20s as a way to rebuild her confidence, turning a personal challenge into a trailblazing career. Having survived domestic violence, she now uses her platform to raise awareness and give hope to others.
As a Friends with Dignity Ambassador, Bec shares her story of strength and resilience to empower victim-survivors on their journey to healing.
Sandie Foran
Ambassador
Sandy, the owner of Moss n Stone, is a true friend and valued ambassador of Friends with Dignity. As a victim-survivor of domestic violence herself, Sandy understands the profound impact it can have on individuals and their loved ones. Her commitment to giving back and making a difference in the lives of those affected by domestic violence is a testament to her strength and compassion.
Moss n Stone, located in the heart of Chirn Park, has been a long-time supporter of Friends with Dignity. The talented floristry team at Moss n Stone has contributed to our events and fundraisers with beautiful floral arrangements and thoughtful gift hampers, adding a touch of beauty and hope to our cause.
Decinda Burrell
Ambassador
Decinda, founder of Event Society, is not only an extraordinary events mastermind but also a staunch advocate for Friends with Dignity, consistently championing our mission. As our Director of Events, she, along with her indefatigable team, conceptualises and executes exceptional events that are truly memorable. They inspire and touch the hearts of everyone present, leaving lasting impressions that ripple throughout our community.
Decinda’s dedication is genuinely anchored in the community. Her commitment to garnering support is relentless. She tirelessly engages with local businesses, arranging drives that propel our cause further and catalyses impactful change. But her advocacy doesn’t stop there. She is constantly spreading the word about the vital work we do, ensuring that our message reaches as many hearts and minds as possible.
Join Us
We invite all Australians to join us in supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence as we work
towards building a nation free from domestic violence.
towards building a nation free from domestic violence.