Professor the Honourable Hugh Heggie AO PSM has spent a lifetime proving that leadership is at its most powerful when it is grounded in compassion, humility, and service to others.

From remote clinics and emergency responses to the highest office in the Northern Territory, his career has been defined not by status but by care for people and community.

National Survivors’ Day is proud to welcome entrepreneur, sports industry professional and Survivor advocate Reuben Williams as a 2026 Ambassador, adding his voice to a growing national movement to recognise, support and stand alongside Survivors.

Reuben is the founder of SportsGrad, a platform he created after beginning his own dream career at Cricket Australia, helping others build careers in the sporting industry.

But alongside a career that took him behind the scenes of some of Australia’s biggest sporting moments, Reuben experienced something that would profoundly change his life.

Graeme Simpfendorfer is a former Victoria Police Detective Sergeant, senior leader, investigator, speaker and, importantly, a Survivor.

For almost three decades, Graeme served with Victoria Police, working in serious crime and the Homicide Squad, leading specialist teams and eventually becoming Officer in Charge of Wodonga Detectives.

But it was while undertaking training to specialise in Victoria Police’s Sex Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Team that Graeme was confronted with something deeply personal.

As a lecturer described the grooming tactics used by perpetrators, Graeme recognised behaviours from his own childhood.

Melanie Jai is an artist, advocate, author, and changemaker who uses her creativity as a tool for liberation and healing.

Her striking, whimsical artworks invite audiences to explore the hidden stories of trauma and survival, sparking essential conversations around abuse, resilience, and recovery.

A teacher educator for more than 30 years. A Survivor of CSA in a government school setting, he told his story to ABC News.

As part of a group of Survivors, he spoke out and advocated for Survivors of CSA in government schools, which has led to the formation of the Victorian Board of Inquiry into abuse at Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools, which led to the recommendation to establish a statewide independent truth-telling and accountability process, the Forum for Truth and Recognition

It is an independent forum for victim-Survivors of historical child sexual abuse in Victorian government schools to share their experiences and contribute to the public record. https://www.vic.gov.au/forum-truth-and-recognition

Clare is CEO of National Survivors Foundation (formerly In Good Faith Foundation - IGFF), and a founder of National Survivors Day. Day to day, she assists individuals, families, and communities with their journeys to justice for over 15 years.

She has extensive consultative experience providing written and verbal testimony to both State and Federal Government Inquiries, legislative and policy reviews, organisational restructuring, and child safe standards.

Chief Operating Officer for NSF, and Chair of the National Advisory Committee for NSD, Joe is a key Director of the team’s Advocacy efforts.

Joe works both at a local and international level to provide expert consultation on child safety and justice.

At National Survivors’ Day, Joe focuses on creating a safer future for our community and giving a genuine voice to those in need.