Our speakers
Michelle John
Event Host and Founder of PEGS
Michelle John is the founding director of PEGS, a social enterprise which aims to reduce the individual and societal impact of Child to Parent Abuse. PEGS has directly supported more than 5,000 parents over the past four years, and has trained more than 2,000 frontline professionals including officers from police forces across England and Wales. Michelle helped develop the very first regional CPA policy which is now in place across Mid and West Wales, and has been replicated in other regions too. She was also asked to consult on the Domestic Abuse Act by the Home Office, and has partnered with the DWP to create an Employer Covenant.
Michelle’s work has been recognised by numerous national and international awards schemes, and she’s been asked to speak at events across the UK as well as raising awareness of CPA through media including Channel 5 and ITV News, regional television and radio programmes, and the majority of national broadsheets.
Who's Who?
We’re thrilled to be supported by a whole host of experts who are changing outcomes for families every day through their research, knowledge, campaigning, and partnership working.
We’d be delighted to hear from you if you would like to sponsor our first hybrid conference. Your support would be gratefully received and would allow us to spread the word.
Join us and experience our fantastic speaker lineup and help us make a change for the future.
If you have a general enquiry or any questions then we are here to help, contact us today
Speakers and Workshop Leaders
Joe Lockley
Event co-host and Founder of Brightstar
Joe Lockley has helped to bring different sectors together, by using boxing as a vehicle for change.
Joe is the founding director of Brightstar, who empower young people to thrive. Since 2016 the journey of Brightstar has been incredible, from a voluntary run organisation working with 6 young people, to now where there are several centres set up across the West Midlands, where 28 full time staff and 30 volunteers now support over 600 young people each week.
Brightstar have been extremely successful and have been awarded the Queens award, have been internationally recognised and Joe even spoke at the World expo in Dubai to help shape the sports development work in different countries.
Joe and the team are great examples of how using your Why can help knock down barriers as they continue to work with international partners to create lasting change.
Talk Title:
TBC
Dr Amanda Holt
Professor of Criminology at the University of Roehampton
Dr. Amanda Holt is a Professor of Criminology at the University of Roehampton, London. She has been researching and writing about the problem of adolescent family violence for nearly 20 years She wrote the UK’s first book on the topic, which was followed by an edited collection on how to support such families. She recently completed a project funded by the Mayor of London which assessed adolescent family violence across London. Amanda sits on the Risk of Harm committee for Family Lives and is a member of the Advisory Board at PEGS.
Talk Title:
TBC
Dr Andrew Newman
Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS
Dr Andrew Newman has worked within the NHS for over 20 years in the field of mental health and as a Psychologist exclusively in forensic settings. He is employed in the NHS as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in a Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. He is also the clinical lead for our local Mentalisation Based Treatment (MBT) Service, that runs in the National Probation Service (NPS). This is a psychotherapy service for men over 18 years old, who are considered to be a high risk of causing serious harm to others.
He oversees the psychology input into Enhanced Case Management (ECM) across the West Country region. ECM is a service that offers trauma informed formulation led psychological support to Youth Justice Services. He is also clinical advisor to the BNSSG ICB Framework for Integrative Care Vanguard. This is a collaboration of seven services trying to reduce the risk of children and adolescents becoming involved in the criminal justice system and trying to divert those involved out of the system. The services take a trauma informed, formulation led approach to working with young people in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
He also sits on the British Psychological Society (BPS), Division of Clinical Psychology (DCP) Executive Committee as the Finance Lead. He also sits on the BPS, DCP, Forensic Faculty Committee as the child and adolescent representative and Finance Lead. He also sits on the advisory board for Parental Education Support Growth (PEGS).
Talk Title:
Beyond the Behaviour: Identifying CPA as a Hidden Safeguarding Concern in Education.
Annelli Peavot
Head of Safeguarding, Canterbury Christ Church University
Annelli Peavot is an experienced safeguarding leader with a career spanning education, healthcare, sport and the performing arts. Currently Head of Safeguarding and Prevent at Canterbury Christ Church University, she leads institutional strategy, case management, and compliance across a complex safeguarding landscape, including apprenticeships and teacher training. With previous leadership roles in vocational boarding education and frontline clinical experience in emergency care, Annelli brings a rare depth of cross-sector expertise. She is a passionate advocate for safe, inclusive environments and regularly contributes to national safeguarding dialogue through advisory roles, publications, and podcasts.
Annelli is an active contributor to the national safeguarding conversation through published articles, podcasts, and advisory roles, including as an Independent Safeguarding Advisor to Swim London, Safeguarding Champion for Birmingham County FA, and Governor at The John Wallis Academy. Her professional interests include safeguarding in higher education, student mental health, digital risks, and fostering cultures of safety in complex institutions.
Talk Title:
TBC
Billy Cragg-Hughes
Lead-Child/Adult Child to Parent Abuse Service, Warrington Borough Council
Profile coming soon.
Talk Title:
TBC
Caroline Caesar-Caston
Associate Director – National Help Hub/Information Advice & Guidance Services at POhWER
Profile coming soon.
Workshop Title:
TBC
Chloe Egan
Profile coming soon.
Talk Title:
TBC
Elize Freeman
Deputy Director and Co-Lead Dewis Choice
Elize Freeman is Service and Training Development Lead for the Dewis Choice project. She has co-developed and delivered training nationally for the project to professionals from Social Care, Adult Protection, Health, Police and Domestic abuse, including bespoke training for SafeLives IDVA’s working with older people. Elize, based on her extensive experience supporting older victim survivors co-authored “Transforming the response to domestic violence in later life,” practitioner guidance.
Elize is an accredited SafeLives Gender Based Service Manager, Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) and experienced Wellbeing Practitioner. She is a Dementia Champion with the Alzheimer’s Society delivering Dementia Friends sessions to practitioners and community members. Elize is a member of the Abuse Steering Group for the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and also the Mid and West Wales VAWDASV Delivery Group influencing policy and service provision both regionally and nationally.
Attaining BSc Hons in Social Science & Digital technology (The Open University in 2016), Elize is currently studying a MA Safeguarding Adults – Law, Policy and Practice with Keele University.
Talk Title:
See the world of the Child, their journey, and the world of those who hold them.
Fiona Wells
Adoption Expert, Social Worker, Founder of PATCH
Adoptee, adopter, social worker, and campaigner, Founder of PATCH, Passionate Adopters Targeting Change with Hope. PATCH was established to illuminate the challenges faced by many adopters in crisis, exposing the inadequacies and harmful nature of current systems.
Talk Title: Should I stay or Should I go?
TBC
Gemma Roberts
CEO, Preston Domestic Violence Service
Profile coming soon.
Workshop Title:
Spiritual and Ritual Abuse
Jordan Alexander
Safeguarding Expert and Founder of Prism Training
Jordan has over 20 years’ experience in leading on serious safeguarding investigations at a national and international level, working in the police for 20 years and then a Director of Safeguarding for a national charity an currently as the Head of Safeguarding for the UK’s largest housing provider.
He is also the current chair for the National Working Group against Spiritual and Ritual Abuse, leading over 120 national and statutory agencies in the UK to bring positive change to safeguard people at risk from this abuse.
Jordan is a qualified, accredited facilitator and firmly believes in providing training that is interactive, engaging and immersive, ensuring those who attend leave confident in being able to fully manage safeguarding concerns and reports.
Talk Title:
TBC
Mandi Whittle
Profile coming soon.
Talk Title:
TBC
Rebecca Zerk
Director and Co-Lead Dewis Choice / SEE Training and Consultancy / The Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice – Aberystwyth University
Rebecca Zerk is the Director for the Centre for Age, Gender and Social Justice at Aberystwyth University and the Co-Lead for the Dewis Choice Initiative (awarded 4* world leading case study for the Research Excellence Framework). With a proven record of creating and disseminating research beyond academia, Rebecca works closely with victim-survivors, practitioners, and creative artists to produce publications, short films, animations, and podcasts, aimed at diverse audiences. Rebecca’s current research involves co-production with community members and older victim-survivors of domestic abuse to co-create safer spaces. Rebecca’s passion lies with promoting social justice with marginalised groups, particularly at the intersections of older age, gender, sexuality, and domestic abuse.
Workshop Title:
Changes programme and MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
Warren Betts
Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Case Officer at Halton Borough Council
White Ribbon Ambassador & Lead Contact for Halton Borough Council
Creator of the CHOICES Behaviour Change Programme for People Who Harm
Warren works with adults to help them break the cycle of harm, and with young people from the age of five who are displaying Child to Parent Abuse.
He has over 25 years’ experience working with children, young people, and their families in a variety of settings. This has given him the opportunity to learn from them – and he continues to do so every day. Over the years, Warren has developed a wide range of skills and experiences that enable him to support individuals on their journeys. He considers it a privilege to be part of their lives, to share in their aspirations, and to support them in any way he can.
Warren is an accredited Good Way Model Therapist and Good Way Mentor. He is also a trained Solution-focused Brief Therapist, CBT practitioner, Mental Health First Aider, and Lifeline Practitioner.
Don’t miss out, book your ticket today to experience our fantastic line-up of speakers
Contributors
Lucy Wade
You Don’t Own Me – Domestic Abuse Consultant
Lucy is a Domestic Abuse Consultant, Specialising in Post-Separation Abuse and the creator of the website You Don’t Own Me a Consultancy and guest speaking business around Domestic Abuse and Post-Separation Abuse. She is also the host of the Podcast, DIP in and out with Lucy CIC – a “one-stop shop” helping people find useful resources, support services and access to knowledge shared by professionals around domestic abuse.
Here you can dip in and out with no judgement. No rush. Just space.
Creator and Owner of You Don’t Own Me – ydom.co.uk
Creator of The Let’s Talk Series
Creator and Host of the Podcast – DIP in and out with Lucy CIC
Laura Rowe
Align Lifestyle
Laura Rowe is the owner and founder of Align Lifestyle. She is a global Wellness and Empowerment coach, an ex-NHS theatre practitioner, a health science specialist, and a trauma and cancer survivor, on a mission to help people rediscover who they are at their core, to see how truly powerful they are, how to gain emotional freedom by living intentionally and finding calm in the chaos of life. Because after struggling for years with anxiety, depression and eventually cancer, Laura learnt the hard way that if we don’t make time for our wellness, we’ll be forced to make time for our illness.
“I am passionate about creating a society with less burnout, anxiety & stress, so we can be a nation more focused on health, wealth & happiness.”
Using science backed holistic modalities such as meditation, breathwork, yoga and mindset practices, Laura is here to help more of us embrace better health without it feeling like a chore.
Laura has contributed a range of breathing space resources for the conference, she is available for public speaking events, wellness projects, as well as private consultations, and group coaching.
The event is powered by
Matt Collins
MC Online Events
I’ve been supporting PEGS with their conferences for a number of years, and I am constantly blown away by the impact PEGS is having though its support for parents and its drive to change institutions. It’s truly inspirational!
I have always wanted to help people with a passion and a message to reach more people and that is why I set up MC Online Events. I provide technical support for running high quality conferences, both online like this one and hybrid events with some people in the room and some online.
As well as providing the tech support, I can also give advice on how best to structure and run your event so it works best for those engaging remotely, and I will always recommend Anna if you need help with content, organisation and visual design!
You can get in touch at [email protected] or visit www.mconlineevents.co.uk or follow me on Instagram.
Anna Rose Bowler
Content Annie
It is always a pleasure to work with the PEGS team. They are making huge waves, and like Matt, I am continually impressed by their impact across the UK and globally. Michelle and her team are highly professional, friendly, and always make Matt and me feel welcome and part of the team.
Working with purpose-driven organisations is a privilege, but navigating the fast-moving world of digital content can be overwhelming when you are managing the day-to-day running of a charity. As a qualified teacher and trained marketeer, I have combined my skills to support organisations in deploying a range of digital content – including online events and courses – alongside providing the skills and guidance to help them build connections and achieve significant growth via digital platforms.
If you need a tech wizard, Matt is your person. He is always calm, friendly, professional – and unflappable.
You can get in touch at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
Leon and the team at isev
isev – An award-winning website design agency
We’re isev, a professional web design agency based in the heart of Telford. Whether your business is big or small, we spend time crafting cutting-edge websites for businesses all across the UK.
With a keen eye, our team helps your business stand out from the crowd and builds you a lasting digital presence.
You can contact us on 01952 897444 or visit our website.