Meet the staff
Brian Babington - CEO
Brian has worked in the field of community development in Australia and overseas for over three decades. In government/diplomatic, private and non-government sectors, he has: managed Australia's aid program in Burma; represented Australia at four UN General Assemblies on aid, humanitarian and environmental issues; co-founded a social venture firm to encourage sustainable corporate-community partnerships; and held leadership positions in a number of international, national and local community development and allied professional organisations. His roles have included: Vice-President, UN Development Program Governing Council; Deputy Chair, Australian Families and Children Council; member, Australian Council for Children and Parenting; member, Australian Government Carer Payment (child) Review Taskforce; President, Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (ACT); Chair, Food-Share Australia; Deputy CEO, Australian Heritage Commission; and President, Parentline (ACT).
CEO of Families Australia since 2005, Brian is also: a member of the National Children and Family Roundtable; Coordinator of the Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia’s Children; a Director of Plan International Australia – an overseas child-centred community development agency; a member of the Alliance for Forgotten Australians’ Advisory Committee; and a member of the Implementation Working Group for the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children. Brian holds BA (Hons.) and MA degrees (Univ. Sydney) and is undertaking doctoral studies in overseas development at the Australian National University. He was a 2009 Churchill Fellow. His publications include a book on resilience entitled Come Riprendersi Dalle Mazzate (Sperling & Kupfer, Milan, 2008).
Stella Conroy - Senior Policy Manager
Stella is a Senior Policy Manager with Families Australia and has a long history of employment in the human services, primarily in organisations that support families with young children. Stella then focussed on management and leadership of organisations that specialised in improving access to services for Indigenous, sole parent and culturally diverse families. She has served on various management committees and has completed a Masters in Human Services.
Eris Harrison - Senior Policy Manager (Forgotten Australians)
Eris joined Families Australia in January 2007 as a Senior Policy Manager. Eris most recently worked at the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs as a Section Manager. She has worked in areas including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s issues, child care, child protection, out-of-home care and Forgotten Australians. She is an Accredited Editor.
Jennifer Horsfield - Office Manager
Jennifer has been the Office Manager and Manager of National Families Week since February 2003. Jennifer has had a long career in office work, being employed by organisations throughout Australia and overseas. She enjoys being part of the team at Families Australia and working to promote the interests of families.
Fiona Langford - Accounts Manager
Fiona joined Families Australia in October 2010 as part time bookkeeper. Fiona is a qualified accountant and tax agent and has been previously employed in finance and administrative roles with the Playgroups Council of Australia, a couple of local schools and a local church. She is currently also employed with Canberra’s oldest amateur theatre company. Outside of paid employment Fiona is an active Girl Guide leader and is on the Board of Girl Guides NSW & ACT.