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Patricia Karvelas (She/Her) is a prominent Australian journalist, television and radio host, podcaster, political journalist and commentator.

In 2024 she was appointed permanent host of Q+A, Australia's debate on big issues on Australian television Monday nights and the agenda-setting RN Breakfast on ABC Radio. Patricia also co-hosts the ABC’s popular and premier weekly political podcast The Party Room with Fran Kelly.

Karvelas was also appointed Honorary Professor with RMIT’s School of Media and Communication, building on her existing engagement with RMIT and continuing to work with students and staff in various capacities.

Professor JaneMaree Maher (She/Her) is Professor in the Centre for Women’s Studies and Gender Research, Sociology, and Academic Director – Research Training in the DVC Research Portfolio, where she works with graduate research students across Monash.

JaneMaree’s research is focused in three key areas of gendered social science: women's paid and unpaid work, food, care and family structures, and gendered violences. In each of these areas, she looks at gendered patterns of work, care and responsibility. The ways in which women and mothers are blamed and made responsible for children, unpaid work, food-work and family violence have been central to her recent research.

She has published 5 books and more than 60 articles focused on gender issues and has supervised over 40 PhD and Masters students.

Julie-Ann (She/Her) is an experienced advocate and activist with lived experience of domestic violence, child sexual abuse, homelessness, disability and long-term impacts of childhood trauma.

She is a member of the Regional Family Violence Partnership’s Implementation Committee brining voices of women with lived experience to the table. Julie-Ann is also an active member with the Margins to the Mainstream Expert Group (Women’s Health East), the group of experts working on prevention of violence against women with disabilities.

Julie-Ann has experience of public speaking, participating in media and advocacy campaigns and initiatives on the topics of family violence and intergenerational impacts, impacts of childhood trauma, rights of women with disabilities, ableism and gender inequality as key drivers of violence against women, role of response and primary prevention sectors.

“I want people to ask what they normally don’t ask… abuse is still a taboo subject…”

Trent Larkman (He/Him) is a passionate educator and consultant who works alongside community-based organisations and businesses to foster safer, more inclusive environments and cultures. His work facilitates and supports both individual transformation and systemic cultural change, with a focus on preventing and responding to gendered violence, family violence, sexual harassment, bullying, homophobia, and all forms of discrimination.

With a career spanning over a decade across Australia and international settings, Trent brings a wealth of experience, and a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved in cultural change and violence prevention.

A key part of Trent's practice involves engaging men to reflect on their roles in challenging gender inequality and guiding them to take meaningful action in creating safety and respect in the community.

His praxis is grounded in a deeply reflective, ethics-driven approach that challenges entrenched gender norms and power structures, fostering environments where empathy, accountability, and equity thrive. Through this work, Trent encourages participants to critically examine the interpersonal and structural power dynamics that drive violence and oppression inviting deeper self-awareness and a commitment to building more respectful and inclusive spaces for everyone.