Preventing sexual violence - what works? In conversation with Emily Maguire, Michael Salter and Kathleen Maltzahn, facilitated by Fiona Vera-Gray

We all want to create a world free from sexual violence, so let's talk about prevention.

Join Emily Maguire, Professor Michael Salter and Kathleen Maltzahn online as they explore approaches to sexual violence prevention. Facilitated by UK sexual violence expert Professor Fiona Vera-Gray, the discussion will draw on our speakers' experience and expertise to explore what works, where the gaps are, and how to respond to the changes and challenges of today.

Prevention is complex and multifaceted, but by putting our minds together, we can be one step closer to achieving our common goal of creating a world free from sexual violence.

Date: Friday 28 March 2025

Time: 10.45am - 12.15pm AEDT

Where: Online

Please note this webinar will be recorded.

About our speakers

Facilitator

Professor Fiona Vera-Gray is one of the UK’s leading feminist academics working on sexual violence and she has a decade’s experience in the frontline anti-violence against women movement. Currently the Deputy Director at the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit at London Metropolitan University, Fiona was formerly at Durham University and has been a regular media commentator on pornography, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and rape prevention. She is the author of two academic books on street harassment and recently published her most recent book, Women on Porn, based on new, immersive research and interviews with women aged 18 to 70.

Speakers

Emily Maguire is the co-author of Australia's first violence prevention framework, Change the Story (2nd ed.) which is used by governments across the country to inform their violence prevention efforts.

Over two decades, Emily has designed and delivered innovative, evidence informed violence prevention programs, strategies and resources for a range of organisations, including Our Watch, VicHealth, the Australian Human Rights Commission, CASA House and DVRCV.

Most recently, Emily was the CEO of Respect Victoria, the state’s first dedicated statutory body with a sole focus on preventing family violence and violence against women.

She is now a specialist consultant in family violence and violence against women strategy, policy workforce development, capability building and program design.

Professor Michael Salter is the Director of the Childlight East Asia and Pacific Hub at the University of New South Wales. He is an internationally recognised expert in child sexual exploitation, complex trauma and gendered violence. Professor Salter is Chair of the Grace Tame Foundation and a past president of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. Professor Salter is a member of a number of advisory groups, including the Advisory Group of the National Plan To Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children, the Expert Advisory Group of the eSafety Commissioner, and the Expert Advisory Committee of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection.

Kathleen Maltzahn is the CEO of Sexual Assault Services Victoria (SASVic), Victoria's peak body for specialist sexual assault services. She has spent many years working to combat sexual assault and other human rights abuses. Her previous leadership roles include research fellow at La Trobe University, Deputy Executive Officer at the Eastern Domestic Violence Service, Executive Director at Women’s Health in the North, Councillor at the City of Yarra, Founding Director at Project Respect and Interim Director of the East Timor Human Rights Centre. Her published writing includes opinion pieces in newspapers, articles in peer reviewed journals and the first book on trafficking in Australia, Trafficked.