Emily's research focusses on child protection systems, specifically social inequities affecting system contact and experience, decision-making variability, knowledge interpretation in practice, the use of algorithmic decision tools, and the politics of state intervention in family life. She was an invited witness to both the Waitangi Tribunal hearing (WAI2915) (investigating inequities for Māori in the Aotearoa New Zealand child protection system), and the Royal Inquiry into Abuse in State Care. She is a Registered Social Worker, a founding member of the Reimagining Social Work blog, an associate editor of Qualitative Social Work, and a member of the editorial collective of the journal Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work. Her work highlights issues of rights, equity and justice within child protection systems.

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Google Scholar: Emily Keddell

Shayne's research interests are Māori social services development; alternative care; social service agencies and care and protection. He regularly provides policy advice to government including Oragna Tamariki. He was chair of the SWRB x - x.

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Shayne's exceptional work as a foster parent and social worker earned him a well-deserved place on the 2020 New Year's Honours List for an ONZM. Shayne is an Associate Prof and head of department in social and community work as well as a former state ward who became a foster dad to nearly 200 boys.

Ian Hyslop has an abiding interest in the relationship between social work and structural social inequality. He has an undergraduate qualification in law, postgraduate qualifications in social work and social policy and a doctorate in social work. Ian’s research interests are particularly focused on the development of socially just child protection practice in Aotearoa and internationally. He worked in statutory child protection for two decades. Ian has been thinking and writing about social work, child protection and social justice for a further twenty years. He is currently employed as a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and continues to be passionate about reforming the politics of child protection policy and practice.

Kerri Cleaver is a Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe Waitaha wāhine and social work academic. She is currently employed as a lecturer in the Social Work department at the University of Canterbury. Kerri brings an advocacy and social justice focus with research priorities in child protection from prevention through to exits from the foster system, alongside a commitment to decolonising social work and systems. As an experienced practitioner she has worked in child protection, in communities and in kaupapa Māori service development for Ngāi Tahu, as well as a short stint in policy at the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. She is dedicated to seeing substantial change that results in supported whānau flourishing in our communities where mokopuna are the heart and centre and are recognised as our future ancestors.