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.

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.

Phil Doorgachurn is a highly accomplished CEO, board director, and consultant, with over two decades of experience leading transformative initiatives in child safety, organisational culture, and systemic change. Passionate about safeguarding and the rights of children, Phil has dedicated his career to creating safer environments for children across diverse sectors, including sport, education, and business.

Phil’s journey is marked by a steadfast commitment to innovation and collaboration. He has worked with global organisations such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA, and the Premier League, advising on strategies to enhance athlete welfare and safety. Notably, he pioneered the world’s first education program for welfare officers in sport and led the development of one of the English Premier League's first wellbeing teams for elite athletes.

In Australia, Phil has been instrumental in shaping child safeguarding frameworks through roles such as CEO of YMCA Safeguarding and Advisor to the National Office for Child Safety. His leadership extends to consulting for organisations like England Cricket, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Victoria University and many more, where he has driven cultural shifts from reactive risk management to proactive safeguarding practices.

Phil is currently the Executive Director for On Us: Australian Business Coalition for Safeguarding Children, uniting Australian businesses to ensure their operations, products, and services prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children. His expertise in designing self-paced training programs, strategic frameworks, and stakeholder engagement initiatives has helped countless organisations create sustainable child-safe cultures.

Outside of his professional life, Phil remains grounded by his love for family and his cocker spaniel, Chula, who often accompanies him on beach walks and even virtual meetings. Phil's work is driven by a deeply personal mission: to inspire systemic change and ensure every child grows up in a world where they feel safe, valued, and supported.

Alma-Jane O'Donnell serves as the National Manager of the Child and Family Service at Goodstart Early Learning. With a Master's Degree in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, Alma-Jane is a specialist in this field. She brings over 30 years of experience working with vulnerable families and communities both nationally and internationally. Alma-Jane has significant expertise in early intervention research, project development, and lecturing on Infant Mental Health. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in the national rollout of trauma-informed programs, policies, and procedures within Goodstart Early Learning.

Tom Allsop serves as the Chief Executive of PeakCare, the peak body for child and family services in Queensland. In this role, he represents PeakCare's voice across legislative, policy, program, and practice trends, addressing key issues relevant to child protection and the family support sectors. He also leads PeakCare’s team, ensuring the effective delivery of strategic objectives and seamless organizational operations.

With extensive expertise in the intersection of child protection and related service systems—including youth justice, early childhood education and care, education, health, and housing—Tom brings a wealth of experience to his leadership position.

Joining PeakCare in February 2021, he brought over a decade of experience as a respected Senior Manager and Director in the Human and Social Services and Information and Communication Technology sectors. He has established a strong reputation for his leadership achievements, having delivered nationally significant and critical programs, including Queensland’s Government participation in the National Redress Scheme, NDIS Worker Screening, and the implementation of modern systems and practices that have transformed child protection and youth justice services in Queensland.

Tom holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science with dual majors in Biomedical Science and Neuroscience. He is also an accredited Program, Project, and Change Manager.

In addition to his role at PeakCare, he is a sessional academic at Queensland University of Technology and a Non-Executive Director of Families Australia, the national peak body for families.