Commissioner profile
Dr Nikola Stepanov has spent much of her career in dedicated service to the public sector and community. Her background is in dispute resolution and mediation, and corporate governance. She has particular expertise in resolving complex and contentious conflicts, for example, where there are grave risks to the community, agencies, boards, or individuals.
She holds several degrees including a Juris Doctor (JD), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Melbourne (School of Global and Population Health and Melbourne Medical School). Her PhD was completed in the fields of paediatrics medicine, professional ethics, and human rights/ humanitarian law.
Professional accreditation and memberships include as a Fellow member of the Governance Institute of Australia (FGIA), accreditation as a Mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System, accreditation by the Federal Attorney General’s Department as a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, and as a Professional member with the Resolution Institute (PRI).
In her spare time Dr Stepanov is a devoted chocolate connoisseur, snow skier, long-distance hiker, and enjoys belting out ‘80s song on her tarnished saxophone (‘Walter’). Although a seasoned camper and back-packer, Dr Stepanov is keen to try ‘glamping’ and ‘gliking’ as age sets in, and creature comforts become more enticing. She is co-located, and lives in Brisbane and in Toomulla Beach (North Queensland) and has three adult sons.
Affiliations/Memberships:
- Fellow, Governance Institute of Australia
- Professional member, Resolution Institute
- Partner, ARC National Integrity System Project
- Member, Steering Committee, Corruption Prevention Network Qld
- Chair, Townsville Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee
- Adjunct Associate Professor, James Cook University, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine
- Member, Family Law Pathways Network North Qld
- Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Former ‘Outback Boardie’, Central West Hospital and Health Service Board Member
