2025 Global Conferences

Professor Daryl Higgins serves as the Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at the Australian Catholic University. With over 30 years of expertise, his research focuses on the prevalence, impacts, and prevention of child abuse. He specializes in public health approaches to child protection, strategies for creating child-safe organizations, and initiatives to promote the welfare of children and families. Notably, he was a Chief Investigator for the Australian Child Maltreatment Study, the first national research examining the prevalence of child abuse and neglect in Australia and its health consequences.

Sabrina Page, MSc, is a third year PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh, Global Data Fellow at Childlight, and founder of the GVR-CN. Sabrina has experience in multiple forms of gender-based violence research including intimate partner violence (IPV), child maltreatment, and violence against women and children in conflict settings. Sabrina has a particular interest in mental health and the wider effects of violence on the life course. Sabrina's background in social epidemiology and public health has led her to work with an array of qualitative and quantitative data and hopes to use her research experience to inform policy.

With over 15 years of leadership in the for-purpose sector, Kelly-Ann Tansley has been dedicated to driving systemic change, advancing gender equity, and transforming responses to domestic, family, and sexual violence.

As the CEO of Zahra Foundation Australia, she has led the organisation’s strategic expansion across two states, embedding a collective impact model to enhance service integration, financial resilience, and economic empowerment for women affected by gender-based violence. Her leadership has focused on securing diversified revenue streams to ensure the foundation's long-term sustainability and adaptability to evolving community needs.

A passionate advocate for systems transformation, Kelly-ann has influenced policy, governance, and legislative reform, serving in key advisory roles on government taskforces and reform committees. With extensive experience across government, corporate, and social impact sectors in both Australia and the UK, she brings a global perspective to service design, advocacy, and collaborative impact initiatives.

Shweta Goyal is a treasurer in FNQDCC, an educator, author, researcher, and motivational speaker dedicated to empowering women and promoting peace. With a PhD in Gender Equality and extensive experience as a teacher of mathematics and physics, Shweta has combined her academic expertise and personal experiences to advocate passionately for gender equity and human rights. Having overcome personal adversity, she actively fosters resilience and purpose in others. Shweta regularly delivers gender empowerment speeches and participates in international forums, including HWPL's global peace initiatives, continuing to uplift and inspire communities worldwide through her writing and advocacy.

Simone O’Brien is a domestic violence survivor, accomplished speaker, passionate advocate for women against violence, and a devoted mother of three children.

Her harrowing journey began in 2012 when she endured a brutal attack from a perpetrator who refused to take "no" for an answer. What started as emotional and psychological abuse escalated into a life-threatening assault, leaving Simone beaten with a baseball bat and on the brink of death.

With the unwavering support of her family and friends, Simone survived that horrific night—a night when her children had to prepare to say goodbye. Since then, she has devoted her life to raising awareness about domestic violence. Today, she travels the world sharing her powerful story of resilience and courage, highlighting the warning signs of abuse and advocating for prevention to ensure such tragedies never happen again.

Through her determination, strength, and compassion, Simone works tirelessly to champion non-violence against women and children. Her story serves as a beacon of hope and a call to action: together, we can end domestic violence.

Felicia Djamirze is a qualified counsellor, award-winning businesswoman, and dedicated mental health advocate. As the founder and CEO of Neuro Vitality Pty Ltd and the Trauma Recovery Network, she is committed to championing the rights of women affected by trauma, violence, poverty, incarceration, and the justice system.

Djamirze is the author of the powerful true crime memoir Accessory, which offers a firsthand account of survival, post-traumatic growth, and rebuilding a life with purpose. She is a regular contributor to About Time Media and Women’s Agenda, using her platform to raise awareness of issues affecting individuals silenced by stigma, abuse, and discrimination.

Recognized as a trusted voice in the media and a sought-after public speaker, Djamirze has made significant contributions to women’s rights, trauma recovery, and justice reform. She spearheaded Australia’s first all-female, Indigenous-led nationwide study on trauma and adverse childhood experiences among individuals with a conviction history and developed the Growth-Focused Trauma Model—an innovative framework for practitioners working with complex trauma and PTSD.

Her work has a global reach, as she travels internationally to visit prisons, engage in research, and participate in cross-cultural knowledge sharing to advocate for trauma-informed reintegration and restorative justice practices.

With extensive experience supporting survivors of domestic and institutional violence, as well as criminalized and marginalized women, Djamirze remains committed to driving systemic change, challenging entrenched inequality, and empowering individuals to transform adversity into wisdom. Through her work, she continues to inspire others to recognize and share their unique potential in a meaningful and impactful way.

Deanne Carson serves as the founding CEO of Body Safety Australia, an organization dedicated to developing evidence-based educational programs for children ranging from three to eighteen years of age. Her work extends to collaborating with parents and educators to foster safer communities. These programs have received recognition, including awards for Innovation in Education and Crime and Violence Prevention.

As an innovator and keynote speaker, Carson addresses critical issues, such as childhood sexual abuse and the role of digital technology in generating child sexual abuse material. She is also actively involved with organizations and alliances focused on safety, education, and rights, including Partners in Prevention, LGBTIQ+ Health Alliance, National Women’s Safety Alliance, Sexuality Educators Collective, the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, and is recognized as a Trusted ESafety Provider.