Our Trustees

Ruth Busch(Trustee from 2018 -2024, and continues to provide guidance and support to Backbone).

Ruth was born in 1944 in the Bronx and migrated to New Zealand in 1982 from Vancouver British Columbia. She trained as lawyer with a specialty in human rights law. She taught the first foundation law course at the University of Waikato in 1988 and continued to teach at the Law School for the next twenty-six years. She co-authored the report which formed the basis for the Domestic Violence Act 1995 and her work on the Bristol Ministerial Inquiry led the enactment of the violence provisions in the Care of Children's Act.

Ruth was part of the group whose work led to the establishment of the Hamilton Abuse Intervention Project in 1990, a domestic violence NGO whose approach to dealing with violence served as the pilot project for New Zealand. In 2007, she co-authored a second report on domestic violence, Living at the Cutting Edge. Ruth has published widely on domestic violence issues and has keynoted at a myriad of domestic and international conferences for the past three decades.

Paulien Fa’atafa (Chair)

He tangata tiriti ahau
Ko Paulien Fa’atafa tōku ingoa

I’m on the board of the Backbone Collective because I believe lived experiences are critical to bringing about change in the areas where they currently don’t support women (cis and trans) and non-binary people’s wellbeing. 

 For work I lead a project on maternal mental health and wellbeing, specifically how the voices of whānau and community can influence government work programmes in pregnancy and the first year’s of life. I have previously worked for government (Te Whatu Ora, Health Promotion) and in NGOs supporting mental and physical health. I bring public health and equity lenses to all my work.

Paulette Benton-Greig

Tēnā koutou, ko Paulette Benton-Greig ahau, nō Tāmaki Makaurau ahau. The Backbone Collective is an essential part of the social justice movement to end violence against girls and women in Aotearoa. I contribute to the governance of Backbone as part of my shared commitment to that kaupapa, including the belief that structural and social level analysis and change is necessary to bring about a society free from violence and exploitation. I also manifest this commitment in my everyday mahi, teaching in the law school at AUT and in the research that I do on the interconnections between gender and gendered violence and sexuality and sexual violence. Nō reira, tēnā tātou katoa.   

Sophie Barnett

He tangata tiriti ahau

Ko Sophie Barnett tōku ingoa

 In my mahi, I am part of a lived experience team within a kaupapa Māori NGO. I support takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and Rainbow tangata whaiora as they navigate the mental health system in Tāmaki Makaurau. I am a PhD candidate at Waipapa Taumata Rau (University of Auckland), researching racism in Aotearoa. I have previously worked in the social services sector, and in all of my work, I seek to center the lived experience voices to advocate for systemic change.

Tomina Apiti

Ko Tomina Apiti ahau (Ngāti te Wehi, Tainui) I’m on the board of The Backbone Collective because I believe lived experiences, particularly those of wāhine and tamariki are critical to driving meaningful change. I am committed to ensuring systems better support women (cis and trans) and non-binary people’s wellbeing, especially in addressing systemic inequities.

For work, I advocate for gender diversity and equity, using my expertise to inform policies that create inclusive and supportive environments. My governance and advocacy are informed by a deep commitment to Te Ao Māori and my lived experiences as a mother of three and a military veteran. I bring a strong focus on resilience, authenticity, and equity to all my work, with a passion for uplifting voices that have historically been marginalised.

Hala nasr

Ko Hala Nasr tōku ingoa. My pronouns are she/هي. I am a sexual and gender-based violence prevention specialist, with a background in domestic violence and sexual assault crisis response. I also have a PhD from the Gender and Women’s Health Unit at the University of Melbourne.

With a decade of global and local experience, I am driven by a vision of a world free of all forms of violence, harm and exploitation. I am on The Backbone Collective board because I believe that women and children’s lived experiences should be our guiding light for systemic change.