Samuel Leighton-Dore is a multidisciplinary artist and writer based on the Gold Coast. With a keen interest in mental health and masculinity, Leighton-Dore writes for SBS Life and produces work spanning ceramics, LED neon, illustration, animation and painting. His book of illustrations, How To Be A Big Strong Man, was released through Smith Street Books and Simon and Schuster in August 2019. His first solo exhibition, Fragile Masculinity, Handle With Care, formed part of this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival. To quote Benjamin Law, his works are a “big-hearted, happily subversive, technicolour-hug”.
Alanna Bastin-Byrne is the Co-Director of Femeconomy and has 18 years’ experience in marketing, communications and community development across a range of industries in the UK and Australia. The diversity of Alanna’s leadership has been instrumental in building Femeconomy’s engaged community to advance gender equality. In 2018 Alanna was announced as one of 80 Women2Watch in Business Disruption in US, Canada, Australia and Europe.
About Femeconomy
Women make 85% of purchase decisions. When the global consumer economy is valued at $35 trillion, women’s spending accounts for $28 trillion. In Australia it is estimated that women spent $874 billion in the 2017-18 financial year. Femeconomy uses consumer and procurement activism to progress gender equality. If women buy from B2C and B2B brands that have women in leadership, women will impact bottom lines. This leads to more women in leadership to advance gender equality. It’s The Femeconomy Effect.
She is a member of the Experts Advisory Group for the Family Violence Philanthropy Collaboration Project (FVPCP) led by Domestic Violence Victoria and the Melbourne Research Alliance to End Violence against Women and their Children (MAEVe) at the University of Melbourne known as Experts by Experience: A Consumer Participation Model for the Family Violence Sector. This work will support the family violence sector to further embed victim survivor expertise and decision making in the development and delivery of their services.
Cathy worked for Centrelink for seven years, before moving on to work in the Superannuation sector. After her role as Business Development and Policy Coordinator at HESTA ended in January this year, Cathy embraced the opportunity to become Monash Health’s first ever Family Violence Lived Experience Consultant within their Mental Health Family Violence Project Team.
Since 2007, Cathy has been a volunteer Survivor Advocate with Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre. This role led Cathy to make a submission and give evidence at the 2015 Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. Her testimony resulted in two of the final 227 Recommendations, one of which led to the Review of the Victims of Crime Assistance Act which was tabled to Victorian Parliament in 2018.
Cathy was on the working group and is co-evaluated the DHHS Pilot Project “Family Violence Survivor Employment Pathways Program” and was on the expert reference group for WIRE’s “Teachable Moments” Research Project. In 2017, she was elected to the Committee of Management for Project Respect, which is an organisation which provides assistance and support to women experiencing exploitation, abuse or human trafficking in the sex industry.
Cathy was instrumental in working with HESTA to have the Federal Government open up a review into the eligibility criteria for early release of superannuation and to have family violence included as one of these criteria. During her time at HESTA, she was successful in receiving a grant from Victorian Women’s Trust to improve the economic outcomes for women from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds through bringing together the organisations HESTA, ICAN, Fitted for Work and WAM to deliver a targeted financial literacy for women program using a narrative story-telling approach.
In 2019, Cathy became the first official survivor ambassador for Mettle Women Inc. This is an organisation which provides safe and accessible employment and opportunities to women who have experienced family violence and homelessness to establish financial independence.
Cathy is currently completing Monash University’s Graduate Diploma of Family Violence Prevention.
Michael Hail has worked in Community Development for 12 years. This work has been delivered globally and he is currently in the process of relocating from Glasgow, Scotland to Australia. His experiences span across the local and national Third Sector and in several Local Authorities; where he has led the development of innovative Youth Work Services in both a formal and non-formal setting.
Since graduating with an Honours Degree in Community Education; Michael has co-ordinated projects surrounding many social inclusion topics. These have included challenging sectarianism, holocaust education and preventing violent radicalisation.
Michael’s work in recent years has focused on reducing Gender Based Violence within communities. He worked across Scotland developing and introducing innovative primary prevention programmes such as the internationally recognised Mentors in Violence Prevention Project.
He has held posts working with local and national government bodies, the Police, National Charities and the Scottish Youth Parliament. Michael’s passion for travelling and international youth work has seen him work in countries such as Malawi, Pakistan, Germany, Iceland and Italy. He is a keen football fan and enjoys socialising with friends.
Cathy is a cultural strategist, and as co-founder and director of consultancy company Positive Solutions has worked across Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and in the UK. She is also the Executive Director of cultural enterprise Of One Mind, producers of the WOW (Women of the World) Festivals in Australia in partnership with the global WOW Foundation. Cathy is also an advisory board member of the Foundation. WOW allows women and girls, boys and men to imagine a gender equal world through a cultural program of both celebration and interrogation of contemporary life. Following the success of WOW as part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Cathy will lead a team to develop and deliver WOW Australia in Brisbane from 2020-2022.
Cathy is a Board member of Screen Queensland; on the Advisory Board of the Yunus Centre for Social Business at Griffith University and also Executive in Residence in the University Business School.
Katrina is Chair and Queensland board member of Women in Film and Television (WIFT) Australia, a national advocacy body for gender parity and representation of women in the Australian screen industry. She is co-founder and board member of NOW Australia, a not for profit organisation to combat sexual harassment in Australian workplaces. Katrina is a practicing filmmaker and emerging playwright. She celebrates her Indonesian-Australian heritage and champions representations of diversity.
Sue is the Manager of the Respectful Relationships Unit at the Australian National University with over 15 years’ experience in the Not for Profit and Community Sector. Her previous appointments include College Dean at Burgmann College and various executive and non-executive positions at Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, A Gender Agenda, and the AIDS Action Council. She is an accomplished agent of change and brings expertise in program development and implementation, policy, advocacy, community development, and case management. Sue is a passionate violence prevention advocate and advocate for LGBTIQ communities.
Rachel has worked at Rio Tinto for eight years across various disciplines of capital projects. A key role was to shape acceptable project boundaries and scope aligned with Rio Tinto’s strategy, priorities, and values to ensuring the business is "doing the right" projects.
Rachel is currently Rio Tinto’s Chief Advisor Social and Stakeholder Engagement. Rachel is responsible for the implementation of Rio Tinto’s sustainability strategy along with guiding the development how Rio Tinto can collaborate to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition to her role Rachel leads on of Rio Tinto’s key gender equality initiatives, our workplace response to family a domestic violence. To inform the work Rachel engages widely with government, business and civil society ensuring we are continuing to play a leadership role in this complex and difficult social issue.
Throughout her career, Rachel has worked across a number of industries in both the private and public sector. She has held the accountability of delivering varied business outcomes including project delivery, business improvements and managing a merger and acquisition.
Michael Jeh is a former professional cricketer and Oxford Blue. He has worked extensively inside male professional sport environments, advocating passionately for issues around gender equality and DV prevention education. He has been a MATE facilitator since 2010 and is a regular panel member on the ABC, discussing issues of relevance to this conference. In his spare time, he doubles as a wildlife ranger in Africa where he is also involved in ground-breaking work around enhancing the lives of rural African women.
Brett began his career in the Gold Coast Real Estate Industry just over 30 years ago with a clear goal of making lots of money. On his deluded path toward fame and fortune Brett fell in love and married someone with far more grounded ambitions. Together they parent 3 children aged 16, 17 & 19 who provide them a daily opportunity to debunk their misguided theories in child psychology.
Brett has worked in the Gold Coast community for the last 17 years building networks, leading change and supporting children and families. Brett was the Founding Director of a local Gold Coast charity established to meet several identified needs in his community. He has previously held positions as a Community Development Officer for both the Gold Coast City Council and also for the Benevolent Society’s Gold Coast Early Years Centres for many years. Brett was Chair of the Board for DVPC for 5 years and has been facilitating Mens DV Programs for DVPC for over 4 years. Brett works full-time for the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre coordinating the Domestic Violence Integrated Response (DVIR) and their Men’s DV Programs. Thankfully, he is now more passionate about people than money, and is committed to building a more connected and coordinated community of supports for Gold Coast people.
Stephen Hoskin is a men’s counsellor and specialist facilitator with over 20 years experience. He has a passion for facilitating conversations for change in relation to gender and violence in our culture. His own curiosity was sparked when, at the age of 7, he found a badge at his local surf spot that said ‘surf against sexism ‘. His life’s work has been to explore the gendered nature of violence with groups of men, women and young people and the effects/impacts it has on all of us.
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Degree in Counselling.
Faiza is passionate about social justice and inclusion. She is an active member of the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Implementation Council that oversees the Implementation of the Not Now Not Ever recommendations. She is also a member of the Queensland Multicultural Advisory Council that works with the government on strengthening social inclusion.
Faiza’s strength is in her ability to think strategically and add value. She is currently a Director at the Boards of Queensland Council for Social Services, Women Health Queensland and Ethnic Broadcasting Association Queensland.
Faiza has extensive experience in strategic policy at both state and federal governments where she worked for the Queensland Government Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Federal Department of Ausaid as well as leading the Romero Centre as an important advocacy forum for asylum seekers.
She is the recipient of the Queensland Government Multicultural Outstanding Individual Achiever award for 2018, a finalist for the Australian woman of the Year 2018 and Migration and Settlement Council Empowering Women awards.
Faiza holds four postgraduate degrees in Architecture, Applied Science, Project Management and Education. She is currently completing her doctorate degree at UQ focusing on gender.
Faiza is keen to bring her knowledge and expertise to work collaboratively and innovatively with members of the Board and staff of Radio 4EB to increase its reach and value to the communities it aims to served.
Rachel Kayrooz has survived the unthinkable. Once a gifted classical singer, actor and songwriter, with a promising career in the arts, this sales and marketing professional went from working in the top end of town and performing in theatre and film, to living in her car, pregnant, beaten, broke and homeless.
Her story of survival will shock you. Yet her bravery, courage, resilience and fight to live has motivated and empowered thousands upon thousands, across Australia and the globe.
From her first speaking engagement for Amnesty International in 2006 at QLD Parliament House, Rachel founded her training consultancy, Shout! Speak Out.
Following a meeting with former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2007, this inspiring single mum became the youngest member appointed to the National Council for Reducing Violence against Women and their Children; their task being to write the National Plan of Action. That Plan and its recommendations instigated judicial and social change across the country.
Rachel’s passion for the safety and wellbeing of children was evident to renowned global activist Erin Brockovich, who invited Rachel to write an article for her online audience.
In 2009, Rachel was appointed National Co-ordinator for Amnesty International Australia’s "Stop Violence Against Women" Campaign.
The recipient of several acclaimed awards, including a QLD Child Protection Education Award for her Respectful Relationships Program, Rachel is a highly-regarded trainer, consultant and keynote speaker.
Her expertise, years of contribution and story of survival have been noted in several Government Hansards and media in Australia, the USA, Malaysia and New Zealand.
Rachel is at the forefront of change. Her powerful message has reached and created positive outcomes with police, lawyers, magistrates, psychologists, social workers, GPs, nurses, teachers, AFL staff and athletes, corporations, business and community groups, MP’s, Senators, Boards and high school and university students, among many others.
Rachel has completed the ‘Safe from the Start - Train the Trainer’ course for working with children who have experienced family violence and has featured as a panellist for the Mental Health Professionals Network: "Domestic Violence & Mental Health" and "Working with Children who have experienced Trauma".
Rachel has been a guest Lecturer at the Australian Judicial Administrators’ Conference, Griffith University and University of QLD. Her Workplace Violence Awareness & Intervention Program has made a lasting impact and provided real-time strategies for corporate management and staff across Australia, reaching rural and remote areas.
In 2014, Rachel and her daughter Faith founded the White Warrior Challenge against Domestic Violence, raising funds for local services.
In 2016, this passionate justice and human rights defender was appointed as a National Ambassador for Our Watch.
Though living with dv-related disabilities, Rachel undertook studies in martial arts for several years. Boxing still remains a passion.
When she’s not enjoying family time in the outdoors, Rachel is working on a film script and her autobiography "Fortitude and Faith".
A passionate voice for change, Rachel motivates audiences to challenge their perceptions, break down barriers and walk with purpose, compassion and faith.
This articulate, engaging, humorous, entertaining and emotionally honest presenter delivers a powerful message that changes and saves lives.
Natasha Stott Despoja AO is the founding Chair of Our Watch (the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and their Children).
She was Australia’s Global Ambassador for Women and Girls (2013-2016), responsible for the promotion of women’s economic empowerment, women’s leadership and the reduction of violence against women and girls. In May 2018, she was named one of the Top 100 Global Influencers on Gender Policy.
She is the youngest woman ever to enter the Australian Federal Parliament.
Natasha served two years on the World Bank Gender Advisory Council (2015-2017) and was a member of a 2017 UN High Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents.
In 2001, she was named a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum.
In 2011, Natasha was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to the Australian Parliament, education and as a role model for women. In 2019, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of her international work. Natasha is an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide, a member of the Australian National University Council, a member of Board Agenda 50:50 by 2030 Advisory Group, and a member of the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup Steering Committee.
She is a former Deputy Chair of beyondblue, and has been a board member for the Burnet Institute, the South Australian Museum Board (2009-2013), the Advertising Standards Board member (2008-2013) and the Museum of Australian Democracy (2010-2013). She was o the Prime Minister’s Referendum Council.
She is a on the board of Carrie Bickmore’s Beanies for Brain Cancer; the Global Citizen; the Global Women's Institute Leadership Council; the Global Citizen Women’s Council.
She is/has been, a Patron or Ambassador for several not-for-profit groups, including The Orangutan Project, VicHealth, secondbite, Ovarian Cancer Australia, ENUF the HIV/AIDS anti-stigma campaign and Action Aid.
Dr Heather Nancarrow is the CEO of Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS). For more than 35 years, Heather has worked to address violence against women, including in community services and advocacy, government policy, and research. She has many leadership roles at the state and national level, including Deputy Chair of the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, which produced Time for Action, the blue-print for COAG’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.
Heather is an Adjunct Associate Professor at UNSW and an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University. She has a MA (Hons) and a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Her scholarship is focused on justice responses to violence against women, particularly as they relate to violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Heather’s book, Unintended Consequences of Domestic Violence Law: Gendered Aspirations and Racialised Realities was recently published by Palgrave Macmillan.
Ben is a survivor of domestic violence and is now a committed campaigner, educator and speaker, raising awareness and fighting for improved services for LGBTI victims and survivors.
In 2016, Ben received a fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust which allowed him the opportunity to travel to the USA, Canada, England, Scotland and the Netherlands to research ways in which Police forces and support services can enhance the way they respond to domestic violence in LGBTI communities.
Ben is on the board of directors for DV Connect, is a training facilitator for the MATE Bystander Program and also the Qld AIDS Council DV Awareness Training.
Ben is a member of the Qld Government LGBTI Roundtable which informs government engagement with LGBTI communities and provides a mechanism for communities to highlight issues, challenges and opportunities with Qld government agencies.
2017 saw Ben being named as one of the top 50 most influential and inspiring LGBTI Australians by Cosmopolitan Magazine for his work with LGBTI communities.
Deborah Candler is an ordained pastor on the Gold Coast with a BA in Children’s Dentistry and Community Oral Health, post graduate degrees in theology and a Masters in Ministry and Cross-Cultural Leadership. Deb is also a key-note speaker at conferences, seminars and churches, a lecturer, mentor and author.
Currently you can find Deb:
- Mentoring women leaders and pastors on the G.C and throughout Australia,
- Mentoring staff in the education sector,
- Key-note speaking,
- Guest lecturing,
- Developing training and lecturing resources,
- Collaborating with the faith community on designing preventive solutions to violence against women,
- Tucked away in coffee shops completing her second book challenging the frameworks of thinking that have contributed to the violence and “otherness” of women.
Her mantra is “Expanding capacity to see better options, make better choices and get better outcomes.”
Heather’s book, Unintended Consequences of Domestic Violence Law: Gendered Aspirations and Racialised Realities was recently published by Palgrave Macmillan.
Growing up in a small rural community in Western New South Wales, Margaret now often wakes up each morning trying to understand how she got to live on an island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Margaret was a late bloomer to academia, starting a Social Science Degree externally at the age of 30, with 4 young kids and a full-time job.
After University, Margaret’s degree and life’s experiences allowed her to work in the most amazing environments and communities around rural NSW.
Front line management positions in drugs and alcohol, community mental health, HIV/Aids, Public Health and Aboriginal Health and Corrective Services, allowed Margaret to work with the most remarkable people and provide positive structural changes within those communities.
After a successful burnout, Margaret went back to Uni to retrain in Adult Education and Training. She took a position at NSW TAFE and loved the nurturing and challenging opportunities of future community services workers.
Margaret was then bitten by the love bug and ended up in Central Queensland managing a Disability Services – something she describes as her biggest employment challenge ever!
She has a blended family of 7 children and 10 grandchildren, an amazing, caring partner, two Chihuahuas, a never-ending house full of people from many different cultures and backgrounds and always, her home is full of lots of love and laughter. Now, although blissfully retired, Margaret continues to embrace the same values that she has always had both in her career and personal life – share your experiences, share what you have, trust and never lock the door.
She is still not sure how she ended up living in this beautiful island paradise though....
Growing up in a small rural community in Western New South Wales, Margaret now often wakes up each morning trying to understand how she got to live on an island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Margaret was a late bloomer to academia, starting a Social Science Degree externally at the age of 30, with 4 young kids and a full-time job.
After University, Margaret’s degree and life’s experiences allowed her to work in the most amazing environments and communities around rural NSW.
Front line management positions in drugs and alcohol, community mental health, HIV/Aids, Public Health and Aboriginal Health and Corrective Services, allowed Margaret to work with the most remarkable people and provide positive structural changes within those communities.
After a successful burnout, Margaret went back to Uni to retrain in Adult Education and Training. She took a position at NSW TAFE and loved the nurturing and challenging opportunities of future community services workers.
Margaret was then bitten by the love bug and ended up in Central Queensland managing a Disability Services – something she describes as her biggest employment challenge ever!
She has a blended family of 7 children and 10 grandchildren, an amazing, caring partner, two Chihuahuas, a never-ending house full of people from many different cultures and backgrounds and always, her home is full of lots of love and laughter. Now, although blissfully retired, Margaret continues to embrace the same values that she has always had both in her career and personal life – share your experiences, share what you have, trust and never lock the door.
She is still not sure how she ended up living in this beautiful island paradise though....
Hi guys, my names Marshall, I am a father of four children who are growing up on the Gold Coast, and I want to help make this city a better place for them – a better place for us, helping shape a better future.
I’ve been involved in charitable organisations, community worker space since 1996, involving a wide variety of reach and cause.
But when I hear statistics about Domestic Violence in the City I live in; it can't help but impact me personally; not organisationally. Being a husband, father and resident of Gold Coast City I cannot sit around and do nothing about this seemingly growing crescendo of abuse in my neighbourhood.
But what can I do? "I'm not really qualified to deal with anything over the cliff; but I want to do something; there has to be a way that I can help shift the increasing flow of families going over this cliff of violence – however that has been defined!" This has been my hearts cry since the end of 2017.
I am humbled to be sharing with you today.
Greg Haines is a strategic marketing consultant. For over 20 years he has helped companies build meaningful brands, better understand their customers and build longer and more effective customer and partnership relationships. Some of the brands Greg has worked with are Signature Boats, Suzuki outboards, RAM trucks, Maritimo Yachts and recently has become the Australian distributor for the prestigious Princess Yachts Brand.
Marc is a current serving member of the Queensland Police Service and is the Detective Inspector responsible for policing Crime, Child Protection and Domestic and Family Violence at the Gold Coast, Australia’s sixth largest city.
In 2016 Marc developed a Gold Coast policing taskforce which has since established an unblemished reputation as being innovative and progressive in the provision of high-end community-based services treating complex social harm environments. New programs and systems have saved lives and provided greater safety for victims of violence particularly women and children.
Marc and his team recently received the Australian Institute of Criminology 2018 Crime and Violence Prevention Gold Award recognizing excellence in addressing domestic and family violence.
Marc holds a Master of Leadership and Management and other formal academic based qualifications. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Quantico Academy and a member of the National Academy Associates.
In 2019 Marc was awarded the prestigious Queensland Police Service and RACQ University of Cambridge Scholarship and is currently undertaking a Master of Studies in Applied Criminology.
He has completed the Queensland Social Leadership Australia program and has served as a board member with Non-Government Organisations involved in health services.
Ray Bull is a Human-Centred Designer who leads teams that tackle big social challenges and build the conditions for social innovation.
Ray has run a successful design agency for over 25 years servicing iconic global brands such as Porsche, Hewlett Packard and Pioneer as well as well as not-for-profit organisations such as the United Nations Association of Australia, City of Gold Coast, and Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies.
Currently you can find Ray:
- Spearheading an innovative collaboration between Government, Education and the Faith communities focused on designing primary prevention solutions to violence against women in Gold Coast, Queensland.
- Consulting to ambitious organisations focused on building healthier cultures and more valuable brand
- Leading and supporting, multi-disciplinary, human-centred design projects, product development and service design engagements
- Researching, developing deep insights, generating concepts, and crafting how people engage with brands, products and services
- Teaching communication design at universities in Queensland
