Staff

Heather Bellino
Chief Executive Officer
 

Heather Bellino is the Chief Executive Officer at Texas Advocacy Project (TAP). Since 2005 she has she has championed the empowerment of victims of dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, and human trafficking in Texas. Under Heather’s leadership, TAP provides free, life-changing legal and social services to thousands annually, breaking cycles of abuse and transforming lives. Through innovative initiatives, Heather raises awareness of critical issues, dismantles stigma, and fosters open dialogues to drive systemic change. Prior to joining TAP, she had an extensive background in sales and marketing.

Heather participates on a number of committees, such as Texas Council on Family Violence’s Public Policy Committee which addresses the response to family violence in our state and provides guidance on measures that will be presented to the Texas Legislature. She was also a member of the PROJECT SAFE Expert Panel born from Senate Bill 434 Task Force charged with addressing the relationship between domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. In 2021, Heather was appointed as a representative of Texas Advocacy Project on the Office of the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force.

She co-authored “INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE- An Epidemic Family Physicians Can Address” in the Texas Academy of Family Physicians Journal, Vol. 69 No. 4 2018, and recently contributed to the blog, “What PPE is Needed for Domestic Violence” in the Texas Medical Association Journal. Heather has also been a mentor for the University of Texas at Austin’s Executive Master in Public Leadership Program. The program is designed for successful professionals who want to expand their impact, broaden their career horizons and cultivate leadership capacity. In addition to mentoring, she has also been a guest lecturer at a masters level Public Management class at the University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs. Heather has been highlighted in Austin Monthly, was nominated for Austin Business Journal's 2016 Profiles in Power Award, and was featured as a finalist and is one of four of KXAN’s Texas’ Remarkable Women for 2021. Most recently in May 2024, she was awarded Texas Women's Foundation's Maura Women Helping Women award, recognizing those who have led the way in improving the lives of women and girls.

Staff

Texas Advocacy Project employs 46 staff, 39 full-time and 7 part-time, the majority of whom are attorneys experienced in providing legal assistance to survivors of power-based abuse.