Shaan Ross-Smith is a visionary leader and advocate for equality, inclusion, and violence prevention. As a qualified psychologist and mediator with a passion for human kindness, she has dedicated her career to creating safer and more inclusive communities. With over 15 years of experience in Queensland Corrective Services, Shaan held various leadership roles in complex custodial and community settings, gaining expertise in offender rehabilitation and domestic violence prevention.

In 2013, she joined the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre as the Integrated Response Manager, where she led high-risk domestic violence case management and contributed significantly to improving safety for victims. She later returned to Queensland Corrective Services as Director of Offender Rehabilitation and Management Services, overseeing prison programs and playing a key role in developing Southport’s specialist Domestic Violence Court.

In 2016, Shaan became the Director of Griffith University’s MATE Bystander Program, a groundbreaking initiative that challenges societal attitudes towards violence through a bystander approach. Her leadership extended to her tenure as Chair of DVConnect, where she spearheaded key technological and service upgrades, and helped establish a transitional facility for women escaping domestic violence.

Shaan’s contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including induction onto Queensland’s Domestic Violence Prevention Honour Roll. Currently, she serves on the Queensland Parole Board, the Domestic and Family Violence Justice Reform committee, and the QMusic Safety and Diversity Group, continuing her advocacy for systemic change.

​After nearly a decade with MATE, Shaan and co-founder Kirsty launched The Be There Group, expanding their work to provide more comprehensive support and training to empower bystanders in workplaces and communities. Shaan’s lifelong commitment to preventing violence and promoting equality has made her a pivotal figure in these fields, working to build a more compassionate and just society.

Ben Vasiliou is a social entrepreneur and the proud CEO of The Man Cave, Australia’s leading preventative mental health charity for teenage boys and young men. Ben is a social justice advocate, a seasoned CEO and a Father of 2. He is passionate about helping boys become great men. He has held a number of non-executive director board positions with Australian charities and is a Justice of the Peace. Ben graduated from the Executive Education in Social Entrepreneurship Program at Stanford University. Most importantly, Ben has an insatiable appetite to change the world.

Dr Louise McCuaig currently serves as the Head of the Flinders Discovery Institute at Matthew Flinders Anglican College, a co-educational P-12 school located on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Louise’s leadership of the Discovery Institute draws upon her years as a University of Queensland educator and researcher. At UQ, Louise was recognised for translating complex research into the practical realities of school health-related policy, curriculum and assessment. She has conducted curriculum design and research projects with organisations such as Queensland Health, ACARA, Family Planning Queensland and the World Anti-Doping Authority. Since joining Flinders, Louise’s research has informed the design and implementation of the Inspiring Futures suite of signature youth leadership programs, including the successful Leading Men at Flinders strategy that focuses on positive masculinity and building ethical leadership amongst young men.

With nearly 40 years of experience teaching and leading in NSW Department of Education secondary schools, Katherine has made a significant and sustained contribution to public education. Her career includes roles as Head Teacher PDHPE, Head Teacher Teaching and Learning, and Senior Education Officer, where she was part of the leadership team responsible for the statewide rollout of professional learning for the Digital Education Revolution (DER).

For the past decade, Katherine has served as Deputy Principal at Burwood Girls High School, leading the school’s recognised Respectful Relationships Education (RRE) program. Her leadership has shaped a whole‑school approach that embeds respect, inclusion and equity into everyday practice. This work actively engages staff, families and students, positioning Burwood GHS as a system advocate and case‑study school for RRE. Through this sustained focus, the school community experiences a culture where safety, trust and positive relationships are intentionally cultivated and consistently reinforced.

Rebecca is an experienced educator with a proven leadership record in diverse schools in Europe, Asia and Australia. Rebecca has Masters of Education from Monash University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). In addition, Rebecca graduated from the University of Tasmania, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours and a double major in English, with minors in History and Psychology. Her commitment to lifelong study, values-based leadership, service to education and pathways for all students is richly entrenched in her DNA.

With over 25 years’ experience in education, Rebecca has taught and held leadership positions around the world, including at the Western Academy of Beijing (an innovative three programme IB World School) in Beijing, China where Rebecca lived for 9 years. Rebecca was the Secondary Principal at Inter-Community School Zurich for six years and the High School Principal at UWCSEA (United World College of Southeast Asia), a world class international school with over 1500 High School students, excellent academic results and a strong focus on educating the whole child. Having taught overseas since 2003, Rebecca returned to Australia in 2022 with a wealth of knowledge, strong inter-cultural competencies and a deep understanding of how to “think global and act local” in education. She is a vibrant and passionate Principal who believes in creating highly collaborative cultures where students thrive and become the change makers the world needs. Rebecca has a high regard for integrity, humility and the HVGS motto “Success through Endeavour”, and a keen interest in partnering with parents and the local community to create diverse pathways for students.

Kirsty is a strategist and culture leader with more than two decades’ experience across justice, leadership and community development. As Co-Founder of The Be There Group, she partners with executives, boards and leadership teams to strengthen accountability, shift entrenched behavioural patterns and build safer, more respectful workplace cultures.

Her experience spans government, corporate and grassroots sectors, providing her with a broad systems perspective and a deep understanding of how culture is shaped at both operational and governance levels. Kirsty is known for her ability to engage people at every level of an organisation and to navigate complex, high-stakes conversations with clarity, steadiness and care.

Her work focuses on aligning values with everyday leadership behaviours — ensuring that respect, equity and psychological safety are not simply articulated, but embedded into decision-making, systems and practice. She is deeply committed to equipping organisations with the confidence and capability to sustain meaningful cultural change long after formal programs conclude.

I am a husband of 10 years and a father of 4 (including twins). Being a father has been the greatest joy and challenge of my life all at the same time.

My professional experience consists of degrees in Psychology and Counselling as well as over 15 years working with children and families both in NGO’s and private practice in the Illawarra and South coast region. Ranging from roles in child protection, Paediatric counselling, positive behaviour support, program design and management.

The last four years with The Fathering Project have encompassed leading, designing and driving our work locally and on a national level for dads, kids and families in the community services space.

Elisabeth Duursma is a Research Theme Fellow at Western Sydney University/TeEACH Research Centre. Her research focuses on child language and literacy development, parenting, and the role of fathers in child development. She has conducted extensive research in the area of fathers and book reading and has worked with disadvantaged populations, including fathers in prison. Elisabeth holds a PhD in Human Development and Education from Harvard University and previously worked in the U.S. and the Netherlands.

Dr. Zac Seidler is a Clinical Psychologist, the Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember and a Senior Research Fellow with Orygen at The University of Melbourne. Zac has devoted several years to the goal of reducing the intertwined and staggering rates of male violence and suicide, treating and researching men’s mental health with over 100 peer-reviewed articles published. Zac has appeared on the ABC, BBC, Sky News and in The Guardian, The Age and Vice for his work.

Lori has over 30 years of experience working in the fields of gender equality, violence against women, and women’s sexual and reproductive healthーfirst as an activist practitioner and later as a researcher.

She is an internationally recognised expert on the prevention of intimate partner violence in low- and middle-income countries and played an important role in getting violence against women onto the global health agenda. Lori is passionate about bridging the worlds of research and practice, advocacy and evidence, and local and global knowledge. She loves mentoring young women, listening to podcasts, and contemplating the feminist retreat centre she hopes to create in retirement.

In addition to her work with the Collaborative, Lori is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States.

Patrick O’Leary is an internationally recognised researcher he has conducted numerous complex research projects in Australia, USA, UK, Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Albania, Sudan, Nepal, and Lebanon for international clients including Terre des hommes, Islamic Relief Worldwide, and UNICEF. He has significant expertise in domestic violence/gender-based violence (with a focus on perpetrator intervention, integrated, differential, and intersectional responses), child protection, long-term impact of child sexual abuse (especially for men), social work, hope, and socially excluded young people. His work has focused on these issues in both high and low income countries. He has published in high quality social work and criminology journals including Child Abuse Neglect, Journal of Family Violence, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and British Journal of Social Work. Professor O’Leary’s work has influenced international domestic violence and child protection policy and practice.

Ayla Chorley Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), where she leads national efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm through evidence-based policy, strong partnerships, and community advocacy.

Her work is grounded in a commitment to social justice and health equity, addressing the intersection between alcohol use and gender-based violence. Ayla works alongside individuals and organisations to elevate the experiences of women, men and children, ensuring their voices shape policy solutions and collective action. She recognises that engaging men and boys is critical to driving meaningful prevention and change. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to evidence-driven policy design, transparency and measurable impact, contributing to safer, more responsive systems for all.

Hanan Dover is a senior clinical and forensic psychologist. She founded Mission of Hope, pioneering mental health programs for the Muslim community in Australia. Within Mission of Hope, Hanan has led culturally safe and responsive programs such as Hayat House and Hayat Line and recently led the first Men’s Behaviour Change Program for culturally diverse Muslim men called Islah Circle, and, more recently, developed Hayat Circle – the first 12-step weekly AOD program for Muslims. Hanan is also the conference convenor of the Australian Muslim Mental Health Conference.

Michele Campbell is Clinical Director at the Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) and a respected leader in the alcohol and other drugs sector. With more than 28 years of experience across metropolitan, rural and regional NSW, she brings deep expertise in clinical leadership, service development and workforce capability. Michele is particularly passionate about cross-sector responses and the intersection of alcohol and other drugs, mental health, and domestic and family violence, and advocates for integrated, trauma-informed and family-inclusive responses that improve safety and recovery outcomes. She has also contributed to significant research across the sector.

Tony is the Executive Manager of Clinical Practice and Quality at Family Life.

A psychotherapist, behaviour change facilitator and clinical supervisor, Tony has 10 years’ experience delivering trauma-informed leadership and resilience training to corporate and non-profit organisations.

He started his clinical career in the Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) sector, working as an AOD forensic clinician, clinical supervisor and program manager. After upskilling as a Men’s Behaviour Change Facilitator, Tony broadened his clinical expertise beyond AOD to include working with men who use Family Violence (FV).

Spurred by his passion for innovation, Tony realised there were gaps, deficiencies and opportunities for improvement within the mainstream approaches to working with men using FV. He then went on to develop bespoke interventions aimed at working more effectively with men who use FV to help combat these shortfalls. Tony believes that the integration of psychotherapeutic philosophies and interventions is an essential component to working more effectively with men who use family violence.  

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Counselling (Australian College of Professional Psychology)
Graduate Certificate – Male Family Violence (Swinburne University)
Certificate – Clinical Supervision (LaTrobe University)
Graduate Diploma – Psychology (Monash University)

Dr Stephanie Wescott is a feminist lecturer and researcher in the Faculty of Education at Monash University where her work focuses on gender, schooling and violence prevention. Her research examines the influence of misogynistic and manosphere ideologies in education settings, school-based gendered violence, and the institutional conditions that shape how gendered harms are recognised, responded to and prevented in schools. Stephanie is internationally recognised for pioneering empirical research on the influence of the manosphere in schools, including co-authoring the first study globally to examine Andrew Tate’s influence in education settings.

Dr Krista Fisher is a global thought leader in young men’s mental health and digital culture. As a Research Fellow at the Movember Institute of Men’s Health and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Krista explores how online worlds are shaping young men’s wellbeing, health and relationships. Translating evidence into policy and action, Krista is passionate about sparking conversation, breaking down silos, and driving meaningful change – for young men, and everyone around them.

Daniel Principe is a passionate youth advocate and educator. He champions boys across Australia to challenge culture and aspire to live courageous, respectful and empathetic lives.
Daniel is a trained health professional with a strong background in PR, marketing, media and health advocacy. His approachable communication style is both knowledgeable and fun. He is a regular guest on TV, radio and podcasts to discuss healthy masculinity, consent, respectful relationships and the cultural challenges young people are facing.

Matt Tyler has completed internationally significant research and groundbreaking program delivery related to preventing men’s violence, addressing child sexual abuse and improving outcomes for children and young people. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University and member of Childlight’s East Asia & Pacific Hub Board at the UNSW. He is currently working across a range of projects related to healing and recovery among children and young people, perpetration of violence and collective advocacy efforts engaging the federal government.

He has traversed diverse worlds – improving child protection in the United States with Harvard’s Government Performance Lab, engaging with young Indigenous men in the Kimberley, and driving change at a grassroots level as a Mayor in Melbourne’s West. Most recently, during seven years as on Jesuit Social Services Executive team, he was responsible for leading research on the Adolescent Man Box as well as Australia’s first child sexual abuse perpetration prevalence study. This research informed a range of practice efforts including establishing Australia’s first helpline – Stop it Now! – working with people at risk of sexually abusing a child as well as a range of programs with adolescents at-risk of harming others many of whom had been victims of violence themselves.

Kate is an internationally recognised expert in domestic and family violence, femicide, perpetrator interventions, and the impacts of policy and practice reform in Australia and internationally. Kate is a Professor (Practice) with the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University, and an Honorary Professorial Fellow with the Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne. In 2024, Kate founded Sequre Consulting, which is committed to advancing safety and equality.

Kate has advised on homicide law reform and family violence reviews in Australia and internationally, and has led submissions to state, national and international inquiries. Kate has published her research extensively, including in the 2024 book, Our National Crisis: Violence against Women and Children (Monash University Press). Her research has also been cited by the High Court of Australia. 

In recognition of her expertise, Kate has been appointed to a number of board, committee and advisory group roles by state and federal governments in Australia. In 2021 Kate was appointed Chair of Respect Victoria by the Victorian Government. Kate is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders 2024 class.

Dean Cooper is a highly regarded educator and facilitator with extensive experience working across workplaces, schools, and communities to address critical topics such as domestic and family violence, respectful relationships, and bystander intervention. With close to a decade of expertise in facilitating men’s behaviour change programs and a background in corrections, Dean is nationally recognised for his specialised knowledge in engaging with high-risk perpetrators.

Dr Paul Liknaitzky is Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab and a Senior Research Fellow within the Dept of Psychiatry at Monash University. He has played a central role in establishing the field of clinical psychedelic research in Australia, and is Principal Investigator across a nationally leading program of psychedelic trials. He is also the Director of the Monash Psychedelic Education Program. Liknaitzky leads the country’s largest and most experienced team of psychedelic researchers and clinicians, and collaborates extensively with academic, clinical, government, and industry partners nationally and internationally. Liknaitzky founded Australia’s first dedicated psychedelic research laboratory, coordinated the country’s first applied psychedelic therapist training initiative, established and directs the first university-accredited psychedelic education program, and secured the first industry funding for psychedelic research in Australia. He co-convenes the Australasian Research Group on Psychedelic Science, and is a scientific advisor to psychedelic groups nationally and internationally. Liknaitzky’s work is focused on investigating novel applications for psychedelic therapies, translating evidence into safe and effective clinical practice, identifying under-examined risks and ethical challenges, advancing next-generation therapist training, and improving access, scalability, and affordability of care.

Hannah is a family violence researcher at Monash University, working across the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub and the Clinical Psychedelic Lab. Her work examines how lived experience, clinical innovation, and specialist family violence expertise can be brought together to support men’s behaviour change, cultivate accountability, and improve safety and wellbeing outcomes for victim-survivors.

Hannah’s research is shaped by her lived experience of intimate partner violence and extensive engagement with fragmented service responses across mental health, addiction, men’s behaviour change and criminal justice systems. Her current projects focus on evaluating coordinated police, legal and social service responses to high-risk and recidivist family violence, and developing ethically governed, clinically integrated interventions for men who use violence.

Kate is an internationally recognised expert in domestic and family violence, femicide, perpetrator interventions, and the impacts of policy and practice reform in Australia and internationally. Kate is a Professor (Practice) with the Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University, and an Honorary Professorial Fellow with the Melbourne Law School at the University of Melbourne. In 2024, Kate founded Sequre Consulting, which is committed to advancing safety and equality.

Kate has advised on homicide law reform and family violence reviews in Australia and internationally, and has led submissions to state, national and international inquiries. Kate has published her research extensively, including in the 2024 book, Our National Crisis: Violence against Women and Children (Monash University Press). Her research has also been cited by the High Court of Australia. 

In recognition of her expertise, Kate has been appointed to a number of board, committee and advisory group roles by state and federal governments in Australia. In 2021 Kate was appointed Chair of Respect Victoria by the Victorian Government. Kate is also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders 2024 class.

Tony is the Executive Manager of Clinical Practice and Quality at Family Life.

A psychotherapist, behaviour change facilitator and clinical supervisor, Tony has 10 years’ experience delivering trauma-informed leadership and resilience training to corporate and non-profit organisations.

He started his clinical career in the Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) sector, working as an AOD forensic clinician, clinical supervisor and program manager. After upskilling as a Men’s Behaviour Change Facilitator, Tony broadened his clinical expertise beyond AOD to include working with men who use Family Violence (FV).

Spurred by his passion for innovation, Tony realised there were gaps, deficiencies and opportunities for improvement within the mainstream approaches to working with men using FV. He then went on to develop bespoke interventions aimed at working more effectively with men who use FV to help combat these shortfalls. Tony believes that the integration of psychotherapeutic philosophies and interventions is an essential component to working more effectively with men who use family violence.  

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Counselling (Australian College of Professional Psychology)
Graduate Certificate – Male Family Violence (Swinburne University)
Certificate – Clinical Supervision (LaTrobe University)
Graduate Diploma – Psychology (Monash University)

With a career spanning over 18 years in community services, Joel Palmer brings a wealth of experience and knowledge the community services sector. His journey has encompassed various roles, from frontline positions to managerial and executive management, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of community services and their needs. Joel’s experience across disability services, drug and alcohol program design, and men’s behaviour change gives him a perspective that allows for a strong understanding in developing intersectional responses.

Joel’s approach is underpinned by a deep commitment to the community, a passion for positive change, and a dedication to empowering individuals and organizations. Deeply committed to his Bahai beliefs, Joel sees his daily work for the community as a form of prayer.

Joel helped to develop the REPIN Project at Lyndon House – adapting the residential drug and alcohol program to accommodate the needs of residents with a cognitive impairment. This project achieved a 5-fold increase in completion rates for people with a cognitive impairment, achieving 48% completion of a 12-week program, whether a resident was screened as having a cognitive impairment or not.

Joel later moved on to Men’s Behaviour Change and helped develop a local mandatory screening program for men seeking bail who had been charged with domestic abuse. Of them men ordered by the Magistrate to be screened, 91% chose to continue engagement voluntarily. Joel also co-designed a Men’s Behaviour Change program designed to be inclusive for men with cognitive impairments with Dr Jamie Berry and Ken McMasters.

He has spoken at State and Federal Parliament about the need for increased funding in men’s behaviour change, and at numerous other community engagements aimed at preventing gendered violence.