BFWA committee 2026
A volunteer-led committee manages Borderless Friendship WA.
Dr Lorel Mayberry, PhD, President
Retired, Department of Sexology, Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA
Emily Simpson, Treasurer
Health promoter
Anne Arnold, Secretary
Retired economist
Jordi Quain, Vice president
PhD student and Relationships & sexuality educator, Curtin University
Murray Meaton, Committee member
Economics Consulting Services
Peter Sim, Committee member
Business consultant
Steve Carson, Committee member
Retired - community development consultant
BFWA PATRON
As Patron of BFWA, Professor Coates has used her experience and networks to build and grow both the community-based approach to health education, and to raise awareness of the issues facing hill tribe children and youth.
Professor Rosemary Coates (AO)
BMedSc; BA; BSc; PGDipEd; MSc; PGDipBioethics; PhD
Position: Retired Professor, Sexology, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA
Professor Coates has an international reputation for her work in both sexual health and medical ethics. She is the Past President of the World Association for Sexual Health and has previously been the President of the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, President of Family Planning Australia and Chair of the Western Australian AIDS Council (WAAC).
Professor Coates was a technical advisor for the Reproductive Health and Research Unit of the World Health Organisation. She was a member of the Gender and Rights Advisory Panel; the Sexual Health and Human Rights Committee and the Sexual Health Indicators working group. She was also a member of the working group for the revision of section F52 of the International Classification of Disease (WHO).
She established the Sexual Health Research and Education Unit at Curtin University and is responsible for the development of the first Masters program in Forensic Sexology in the world.
Prof Coates research activities are diverse and involve a number of countries. A particular concern is the worldwide trafficking of women and children for the purposes of sexual enslavement.
In January 2012 the Australian Government awarded Professor Coates with the Order of Australia (AO), the second highest honour recognition. The honour was awarded in recognition of her national and international work and her contribution to medical education.
In 2025, Professor Coates received the Gold Medal from the World Association for Sexual Health -this is the most prestigious individual honour.
