MEDSAC and Victoria University of Wellington are honoured to be hosting this cross-sector symposium.

This symposium has been developed with the aim of raising national cross-sector awareness and understanding around the rise in ‘rough sex’, ‘choking’ and strangulation and discussing recent trends, challenges, risks, and wider issues.

Contributors include*:
Sylvia Bellingham - Rape Prevention Education - Sylvia has spent the last six years working in sexual violence prevention, with the last four years spent at Rape Prevention Education in Tamaki Makaurau. Her passion lies in fostering open and realistic conversations about sex and sexual violence. Having worked closely with rangatahi in schools over recent years, she believes more conversations are needed about rough sex and choking and is excited for this korero.

Paulette Benton-Greig - AUT - bio to come

Sandra Dickson - Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura - Sandra Dickson (she/they) is a Pākehā researcher who works for specialist agency Hohou Te Rongo Kahukura in the intersections of family and sexual violence and Takatāpui and Rainbow communities.

Nikki Denholm MNZM - The Light Project - Nikki Denholm, MNZM, has a health background specialising in sexual health and gender issues. She founded The Light Project, which equips rangatahi, FV/SV and youth health services to positively navigate the new online sexual landscape.

Jo Fink - Ministry of Justice - Jo Fink is a Principal Analyst at the Ministry of Justice. One of her areas of focus is people in the justice system who have experienced or perpetrated family violence and/or sexual violence.

Cherida Fraser - NZPC: Aotearoa NZ Sex Workers Collective - Cherida Fraser is the Wellington Regional Coordinator of NZPC: Aotearoa NZ Sex Workers Collective - a peer organisation supporting the health safety and rights of sex workers. She recently worked on an international research project exploring sex work, sexual violence, access to justice and support across four different legislative frameworks.

Prof Nicola Gavey - Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland - Nicola Gavey is a professor of psychology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland, who researches gender and sexual violence. The focus of her current Marsden-funded research is on the normalisation of physical aggression within everyday sexual scripts.

Dr Debbie Hager - Dr. Debbie Hager has worked for over 20 years at the intersection of family and sexual violence and disability – disability caused by violence, and violence against disabled women. She is currently a member of several advisory groups ensuring that disabled people are included in all government policies and processes to prevent and respond to violence and abuse, and working with VisAble, a disabled person led organisation that is developing multi-agency responses for tāngata whaikaha, d/Deaf, Adults at Risk, and disabled people experiencing violence, abuse and neglect, and working to build capacity in the sexual violence, family violence and disability sectors.

Whetu Horo - Te Rau Ora - Whetu is a passionate youth advocate and leader in Māori wellness, dedicated to empowering rangatahi through cultural connection and innovative initiatives. With a strong background in suicide prevention, violence prevention and community engagement, Whetu strives to create positive change for future generations.

Detective Inspector David Kirby - NZ Police - David has been a member of NZ Police for 38 years working in frontline and the Criminal Investigations Branch. For the last nine years he has been the manager of the Police response to Sexual violence and Child protection. This includes having oversight of policy, practice procedure and ensuring the training specialised investigation staff receive is fit for purpose.

Dr Samantha Keene -Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington - Dr Samantha Keene is a Senior Lecturer/Pūkenga Matua in the Institute of Criminology at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Samantha's research interests include rough sexual behaviours, contemporary adult pornography, and the rough sex 'defence'.

Prof Elisabeth McDonald MNZM - University of Canterbury - bio to come

Imogen Stone - Dear Em - Imogen (Ngāpuhi, she/her) is the Acting Programme Lead for Dear Em at HELP Auckland, where she supports young people to become leaders in sexual violence prevention. She has a deep passion for empowering young people as leaders, uplifting their voices, and believes in working alongside them as partners to achieve a shared vision for a safer Aotearoa.

Dr Kate Taylor - MEDSAC -Kate has been working as a sexual assault forensic examiner based in Hamilton since 2009 and leads both the Waikato NFSSAS (might need words not initials) and sexual assault assessment and treatment service. A long standing MEDSAC member and passionate Lead of MEDSAC's Training and Education Group she has recently become Board Chair.

Prof Denise Wilson - AUT - bio to come

*Full programme to be released soon

A special thanks also to the Australia and New Zealand Society of Criminology for their support in helping us to host this event.