Dominique Bigras

Leading a portfolio valued at over $85 million and 50+ partnerships, including key stakeholders such as CEOs, high-level government officials, and community leaders in the development, implementation, and assessment of community well-being and justice initiatives across Australia. This includes:

• Five advocacy campaigns (i.e., Raise the Age, Smarter Justice, and Jailing is Failing aimed at changing the public narrative.
• Bringing together impacted communities to drive collaboration, develop shared goals, and co-design mutually reinforcing activities and interventions that address the social determinants of contact with the criminal justice system (i.e., Target Zero).
• Systems change initiative that is building the evidence of what works, both inside and outside of prison for women and their children (i.e., CRC, Griffith Criminology).
• Place-based, community, and First Nations-led initiatives across Australia aim to reform the system by shifting resources away from the criminal justice system and into the community.
• Peak intermediary organizations at the intersection of health and justice, or providing community capability building (JRNA, HJA).
• Contributed to significant policy changes and systems reform in the NT, advocating for more effective and sustainable community wellbeing and justice solutions to support vulnerable populations. Played a key role in the Aboriginal Justice Agreement Working Group, ensuring culturally appropriate and impactful justice initiatives for First Nations communities (i.e., developed a partnership between the Commonwealth, NT Gov, and PRF to support the building of an alternative to custody site on Groote Island, and law and justice groups led by the community in remote NT).
• Responsible for 20+ external and partner-led evaluations within the portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and maintaining rigorous monitoring and evaluation processes that deliver measurable outcomes.
• Designed new large packages of work, including developing landscape, discovery, and using a 4D approach for work on democracy and trust.
• Negotiated capital stacks to increase impact in communities (i.e., matched funding by government, peer philanthropy).
• Responsible for the design and implementation of the Just Futures Open Grant Round ($9 million to 11 organizations nationally) for programs that prevent or reduce further contact with the justice system, and prevent incarceration across generations.
• Represented PRF in high-level strategic relationships with key stakeholders, including CEOs, the Attorney General, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), peer philanthropic organizations, and community leaders, advancing PRF’s mission to drive systemic change.
• Maintained a deep understanding of emerging trends and best practices in community well-being and justice, ensuring PRF’s work remains at the forefront of driving meaningful and effective change.
• Prepared high-quality materials for executive and board decision-making, including presentations, reports, and briefings that supported strategic investments, policy advocacy, and organizational priorities.
• Identified and capitalized on opportunities to advocate for more effective outcomes in place-based community well-being and justice initiatives, ensuring alignment with the portfolio's vision.

• Oversee the management of over 30 partnerships in the Justice and Safety impact area
• The role focuses on relationship building and managements of partners who are seeking to reduce youth contact with the justice system
• This includes coordinating and supporting the development of our strategic approach, grant investment activities, partnerships, external stakeholder engagement, and advocacy work

• Led planning, scheduling, project management, and implementation of national inclusion programs at Goodstart, contributing to the achievement of the organization's strategic goal of inclusion for all children and families.
• Managed projects of strategic importance to the organisation, including those involving the Board of Directors and Executive.
• Ensured effective delivery of project priorities through well-planned and communicated organizational interdependencies, conducting detailed analysis, developing solutions, and identifying suitable alternatives.
• Spearheaded stakeholder management and designed structures and tools to facilitate collaboration among geographically dispersed program participants.
• Improved program efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing time-saving solutions.
• Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within deadlines and budgets..

• Pioneered the first National Quality Advisor role at Save the Children Australia (SCA), providing technical support to over 80 projects across the country.
• Managed a team of Program Quality Advisors.
• Played a key role in supporting the design of evidence-based projects and led the implementation of monitoring and evaluation frameworks across all programs.
• Facilitated high-quality evaluation and impact assessments.
• Conducted a comprehensive review of the Kununurra Youth Child Protection program 'Night Patrol,' utilizing various research methods, including 16 semi-structured interviews, a focus group interview, and a thorough review of project data.

• Expanded the State portfolio from two to 20 projects between 2008 and 2014.
• Developed and executed monitoring and evaluation frameworks to enhance project effectiveness.
• Appointed as the Child Protection Focal Point for NSW, demonstrating expertise in child welfare.
• Successfully secured and maintained government tenders totaling over $2 million since 2008.
• Led a child-friendly space response during the Blue Mountains bushfires in NSW, showcasing crisis management skills.
• I contributed as a secondary researcher for the inaugural Child Rights Situation Analysis in Australia for Save the Children.
• Provided leadership and support to a program team and 40 volunteers, demonstrating effective team management.
• Managed a diverse range of projects in remote communities, particularly in allied health and education.
• Secured government funding contracts exceeding $2 million.
• Applied strategic planning and risk management skills to design and implement programs, focusing on improving outcomes for young people in juvenile justice.
• Delivered community-led development initiatives, ensuring projects were designed and driven by local priorities.
• Built and maintained strong relationships with community members, funding bodies, and partner organisations.
• Facilitated collaborative decision-making processes to empower communities in shaping solutions.
• Secured and managed funding and resources to support sustainable community programs.
• Designed and implemented capacity-building programs, enhancing community leadership and resilience.
• Conducted needs assessments and stakeholder consultations to inform program development.
• Advocated for systemic change, working with government and policy stakeholders to address structural barriers.
• Delivered workshops and training to strengthen local knowledge and skills.
• Managed and evaluated community projects, ensuring measurable impact and continuous improvement.
• Applied evidence-based approaches to address social, economic, and cultural challenges.
• Engaged with local, state, and federal government entities on various initiatives.

• Designed and implemented comprehensive child protection, education, and recreational programs to support children's wellbeing.
• Led a team of eight Save the Children staff, overseeing program delivery and coordination within the Regional Processing Centre.
• Provided strong leadership in child protection advocacy, risk management, and the implementation of safe practice standards.
• Developed and executed monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess and enhance program effectiveness.
• Ensured rigorous oversight of safety and security management procedures, maintaining a secure environment for children and staff.
• Strategically planned, allocated, and managed resources to optimise program structure and staffing.
• Successfully embedded child protection protocols across all aspects of the centre, including policies, programs, meetings, and security operations.
• Delivered high-impact education and child protection initiatives despite significant resource constraints.
• Established and managed a school for children aged 6–12, expanding access to quality education.
• Led effective child protection advocacy efforts, driving meaningful improvements in policy and practice

• Conducted comprehensive community-wide consultation to assess a government-funded technology project in a housing estate in NSW
• Executed 60 interviews with key stakeholders, including government representatives, housing estate residents, and community organizations in Waterloo/Woolloomooloo
• Completed a thorough literary review to inform the project evaluation process

• Led a research and recreational initiative in child development, investigating the impact of respite on the quality of life for families with children affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD)
• Conducted daily activity planning, offered support to parents, and provided intensive assistance to children with developmental delays

• Conducted comprehensive background research, provided vital support for tenders and submissions and assisted in finalising project proposals through sourcing and editing
• Managed a budget of $1 mil

• Selected from a pool of 400 applicants to work for the United Nations in Switzerland, specifically in the CDEGEC unit (Community Development, Education, Gender Equality, and Children).
• Led a comprehensive review and assessment of UNHCR’s policy on refugee women, contributing to strategic recommendations.
• Researched, developed, and presented a proposal for fuel alternatives in Darfur, supporting sustainable initiatives in the region.
• Managed the planning and execution of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, a global initiative spanning six months, in collaboration with key partners, including IRIN, Médecins Sans Frontières, DCAF, and UNFPA.
• Provided essential support for data gathering and analysis in field operations, enhancing operational efficiency, and reporting accuracy.

• Enhanced family integration through the organization, creation, and facilitation of ESL classes for young individuals every weekend
• Designed a program specifically tailored to support new immigrant youth in developing essential language skills

• Facilitated advanced research for graduate students in Psychology, involving coordination, organization, and data entry support for databases
• Proficiently conducted data coding to analyze and interpret findings for the PhD research program