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 be interested in sponsoring our this global event – your support is would be gratefully recieved and allow us to get the word out.
Join us and experience our fantastic speaker line up 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
Speaker Line-up
Talk Title:
The Reluctant Complainer: Parental Abuse in the Crown Court.
His Honour Judge Burbridge KC
Honorary Recorder Of Worcester
Judge Burbidge’s distinguished legal career spans over four decades, marked by significant achievements and contributions to the legal profession.
International Training:
Since 2008, Judge Burbidge has been involved in international advocacy training and criminal law courses in various countries, including Albania, Nigeria, Singapore, and the Hague.
Throughout his career, Judge Burbidge has shown a commitment to both legal practice and education, influencing the development of young legal professionals and contributing to the judiciary at various levels. His role as Honorary Recorder of Worcester reflects his esteemed position within the legal community.
Education and Early Career:
In 1978, Judge Burbridge graduated with an LLB (Hons) from Leicester University, in 1979 he qualifed as a Barrister. Between 1979-1983, he served as a Law Tutor at Leicester University and went on to be a Law Tutor at Leicester Polytechnic (now De Montfort University, Leicester), teaching Company Law to trainee accountants between 1982-1983.
Legal Practice:
- 1980-2003: Practised as a Barrister. The first 12 years included a mixed legal practice, while the latter years were focused solely on criminal law.
- 1998: Appointed Assistant Recorder, a part-time judicial role.
- 2000: Elevated to the position of Recorder, handling both criminal and civil court cases.
Queen’s Counsel and Leadership Roles:
- 2003-2011: Served as Queen’s Counsel, conducting serious criminal cases as both prosecutor and defence lawyer.
- 2008-2011: Head of St Philips Chambers, leading a barristers’ chambers with over 150 members and 40 staff.
- 2008-2011: Head of Professional Development for the Midlands Circuit, devising and running advocacy and ethics courses for young barristers.
Judicial Appointments:
- July 2011: Appointed Circuit Judge for serious criminal work, initially serving as Resident Judge of Wolverhampton until 2020, now Resident Judge of Worcester and Hereford.
- June 2012: Granted authorisation to try murder cases and later authorised to try terrorism cases.
- December 2015-2020: Appointed Section 9 Judge authorised to sit in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
- September 2015-2020: Joint Course Director for the Criminal Continuation Courses of the Judicial College of England & Wales, continuing as a tutor.
Talk Title:
Child to parent abuse in the context of neurodiversity: Findings from a recent study of mothers.
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:
Interventions for young people where child to parent abuse occurs
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).
Amanda Warburton-Wynna Pickering
Independent Researcher
Amanda Warburton-Wynn is an independent researcher and consultant specialising in domestic abuse and sexual violence of older people, people with disabilities and carers. She has had several papers published by the Journal of Adult Protection and has delivered webinars for Hourglass, Making Research Count and Local Government Events. She also gives guest lectures for Birmingham City University.
Talk Title:
TBC
Barry John MBE
Soldier, Artist and Founder of the VC gallery
Barry John MBE is a Welsh soldier and artist. He served in the British armed forces for over 20 years. In the 2010 New Years Honours List, Barry John was awarded an MBE. Through his work, he expresses the stories, memories, demons, harsh and sometimes brutal truths, beauty, colours, and resilience of a conflicted world.
After 24 years of service in the Army, Barry set up The VC Gallery. With his artistic background and his involvement in mental health work, he realised the need in the community for his expertise and experiences.
Now, the VC Gallery, based in Pembrokeshire, is working with veterans, older people, children, and anyone who feels they need a time out to express themselves through art.
Talk Title:
12 months of PEGS data: a Cluster Analysis of Child-to-Parent Abuse Patterns
Chenyu Wu
Master’s Student, Durham University
Chenyu Wu is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Science at Durham University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Linguistics from Beijing Foreign Studies University, China, which provides her with a unique interdisciplinary background. Her academic interests include data science techniques, behavioral analysis, and social dynamics. Chenyu’s latest research explores patterns of child-to-parent abuse (CPA) and investigates household structure influences on CPA.
Talk Title:
Impact of Tech-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Harm. Identifying Trends and Solutions for Practitioners
Emma Pickering
Head of Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment, Refuge
Emma Pickering is a dedicated professional, with extensive experience in the VAWG sector. Her career at Refuge began in 2017 when she joined as a MARAC coordinator within the Warwickshire service. Emma joined the Tech Abuse team in January 2018 at the beginning of the project. Currently the Head of Tech & Economic Abuse, Emma plays a pivotal role at Refuge.
Emma’s commitment to preventing technology-facilitated domestic abuse is evident in her pursuit of specialised training. She is currently exploring the subject, in ongoing PhD studies at Birmingham City University, titled “Evaluating the role of domestic homicide Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Domestic Homicide.”
As a Churchill Fellow, Emma is an advocate for survivors of technology-facilitated domestic abuse. Her expertise n the intersection of tech and economic abuse has equipped Emma in leading a team, who provide direct support to women and children facing these challenges. Emma manages external partnerships and stakeholders, collaborating closely with Refuge’s policy and fundraising teams to generate income and foster growth within her team.
Conntect on LinkedIn:
Talk Title:
Addressing unmet need and barriers to seeking support for parents experiencing CPA
Jeremy Todd
Family Lives
Jeremy has worked at Family Lives since 2009. He has a professional background in counselling, health services and the criminal justice system.
Jeremy is a seasoned broadcast interviewee and regularly appears on radio and television as a family and parenting commentator. He is a key note speaker on parenting and family support topics ranging from family engagement in education to family health and wellbeing.
Jeremy worked in a number of NHS Trusts including the Royal London and has also worked in Holloway Prison. He has led a number of organisations in community development and has led the implementation of nationally accredited training schemes and guidelines for professionals working with young people. Jeremy has also worked within children’s palliative care and has been Chief Executive of a children’s hospice.
Joe Lockley
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
Julie Mackay
Author and Podcast Host, Retired Detective Superintendent, Expert Witness, Associate with HMICFRS, Trustee Threds of Red
I joined the police in 1988 when women weren’t allowed to work alone on nights, had to supervise female prisoners and children and the most senior female officer was an Inspector. I was a natural thief taker and from a very early stage wanted to be a detective (there was one female detective per station).
I was sent to a murder incident room in 1989 as “the goffer” where I made tea, took pieces of paper to different trays, checked the messages, and listed and absorbed everything that was happening around me and I was hooked…
I concluded my career as a Detective Superintendent with responsibility for a Tri-Force murder team in the Southwest, it was my dream job and something that in 1988 was never considered a possibility in policing.
Since retirement, I have been an expert witness for HM Coroner for the inquests into the deaths of the victims of Stephen Port (a serial killer), I am an associate with HMICFRS inspecting Police and Fire services and I trained as an independent DHR chair and author with AAFDA. I have just completed my 3rd DHR ( a steep learning curve) and am commissioned for two more.
I have just been accepted onto the Independent Monitoring Board for prisons, with my local prisons being a category D and a sex offenders’ prison, so I look forward to understanding what rehabilitation really looks like.
Finally, I work closely with the media, usually as a professional commentator on reality crime shows, but podcasts, news items etc. My own podcast “To catch a killer” has had over 1 million downloads and the book “To Hunt a killer” won the True Crime award.
Talk Title:
Is domestic abuse a real matter within Eastern European communities?
Kate Fejfer
Founder, Shropshire European Organisation CIC
Katarzyna Fejfer better known as Kate grew up in Poland. She moved to the UK in 2006 only for a couple of months. But she liked the weather and stayed longer in the small Shropshire town of Wem. In the meantime, she met Adam-her future husband in the local library. They moved to Shrewsbury in 2007 where they live till today.
During her time on immigration, many Polish friends and residents contacted her for
help with their claims, applications or advice.
In 2015 she set up the Polish Centre Shrewsbury cic to support the Polish minority living in Shropshire, also to promote Polish heritage and build positive relations between different communities. Since that time Kate has built a well-working network of volunteers and links with various public services, local authorities and other VCS organisations.
Soon realised broader Eastern European communities needed support, the organisation changed its name to Shropshire European Organisation cic and it is known as that till today.
As an organisation, Kate and her volunteer’s support and signpost mainly residents from Eastern Europe. One of their services is to support victims of any form of abuse.
For her contribution to local communities in Shropshire and Telford, Kate and her organisation received several awards including the Shrewsbury Mayor Award, the High Sheriff of Shropshire award and the Midlands Community Foundation award.
Talk Title:
Supporting 2.7 million NHS colleagues think the unthinkable
Kenny Gibson
Deputy Director for NHS Safeguarding
Kenny Gibson is the Deputy Director for NHS Safeguarding, overseeing the all-ages and integrated safeguarding portfolios including tackling any and all forms of neglect, abuse, exploitation, radicalisation & violence. He leads nationally on contextual safeguarding; trauma informed pare; Prevent in the NHS and Child Protection Information System.
Having begun his NHS career as a laundry assistant in 1980 at a mental health unit, Kenny was encouraged to become a nursing assistant and then trained as a nurse and later a midwife. Kenny has held various operational, management and strategic posts in both community and public health but always with nursing at the heart of these roles. Prior to becoming the Head of Safeguarding for NHS England, Kenny was the Head of Public Health Commissioning for London.
Kenny is passionate about listening & bearing witness to lived-experience and being a champion of local practitioner intelligence across healthcare & within the NHS since sharing data saves lives as well as improves services.
Kenny was awarded his MBE in January 2022 for services to healthcare leadership.
You can follow Kenny on Twitter at: @KennyGibsonNHS or @NHSSafeguarding
Talk Title:
12 months of PEGS data: a Cluster Analysis of Child-to-Parent Abuse Patterns
Dr Nikki Rutter
Assistant Professor, Durham University
Dr Nikki Rutter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Durham University. She is a registered social worker, working on applied research and practice, and has 16 years of experience in the statutory and voluntary sector; working in SEND, domestic abuse, and child safeguarding.
Talk Title:
Why Police Couldn’t Save Sheila von Wiese or Heather Mack
Sgt. Rasul T. Freelain
Retired Police Sergeant, Chicago
Rasul, is a retired police sergeant from the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois (2002-2022). A former detective with extensive experience investigating domestic violence and youth-based crimes.
Currently, Rasul is a Senior Consultant at The Protecting Lambs Co., providing training, including Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) instruction and Child to Parent Violence and Abuse (CPVA) awareness, to First Responders and other professionals. He also serves as the Regional Assistant Coordinator for the State of Illinois’ CIT program (part-time).
Rasul is the author of a book about the Heather Mack case and the tragic killing of her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack. President of the Non-Profit company Health Research and Awareness, NFP, focusing on women’s and familial health issues.
Additionally, he is a licensed schoolteacher with experience in primary and secondary English/writing instruction. Holds a Master of Arts in Educational Policy Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in English, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Talk Title:
Breaking the Silence: An exploration of older people’s lived experiences of adult child abuse
Rebecca Zerk
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.
Talk Title:
Hourglass – a unique service for older victim-survivors
Richard Robinson
CEO, Hourglass
Richard Robinson became Chief Executive of Hourglass in January 2019. He has worked in the third sector for over 20 years and has experience in education, international development, medical and arts and culture organisations.
With early career experience as a journalist, Richard combines a strong knowledge of communications with strategy and business nous as well as spending time as a Director of Fundraising.
Most notably, Richard led the Olympic 2012 Charity, The Legacy List and worked to build regeneration and culture programmes across East London. He also spent time in India working with leprosy organisations and led a music industry charity through modernisation and change management challenges.
Richard seeks to build profile for charities ‘just under the radar’ and combine this with a strong, visionary business plan with income generation and innovation at its heart.
Talk Title:
Churchill Fellowship Findings: UK and Australian Approaches to Child and Adolescent-to-Parent Violence Informing Aotearoa New Zealand's Family Violence Response
Sarah Townsend
Principal Advisor to New Zealand Government
Originally from the UK, Sarah has called Aotearoa, New Zealand home for the past eight years. Sarah has been working as a Principal Advisor for the whole-of-government joint venture for eliminating family violence and sexual violence since early 2020. Previous work experience includes ten plus years working in the field of research funding administration and science policy in both the UK and Aotearoa. Sarah has a passion for travelling, for all things outdoors and spending time on the water with her waka ama (outrigger canoe) team.
Talk Title:
Children's use and experiences of violence in the home - meeting children and family members' support needs
Dr Silke Meyer
Leneen Forde Chair of Child & Family Research at Griffith University
Dr Silke Meyer is the Leneen Forde Chair of Child & Family Research at Griffith University (Australia). She is a criminologist and social worker by training, bringing practical and theoretical expertise to her research, teaching and training. Her research centres on different aspects of domestic and family violence, including women and children’s safety, wellbeing and recovery, men’s accountability in their role as perpetrators and fathers, and the role of domestic and family violence-informed practice in child protection, policing and court proceedings. Silke is a subject matter expert for the Australian Raising Children Network and the 1800RESPECT Clinical Governance Committee.
Talk Title:
The Hidden Truth of Child to Parent Abuse within South Asian families
Polly Harrar, CEO The Sharan Project
Polly Harrar
Founder, CEO, The Sharan Project
Polly Harrar has dedicated over 20 years to supporting South Asian women, focusing on those at risk of disownment and abuse. In 2008, she founded The Sharan Project, a national charity providing long-term support to South Asian women affected by abuse or persecution.
Polly is a recognised expert witness by the National Crime Agency on forced marriages and honour-based abuse, frequently called upon to provide evidence and speak at conferences. She delivers training, workshops, and talks to frontline professionals, statutory and non-statutory services, and educational institutions.
In her representative roles, Polly co-chairs the Met Police’s London Harmful Practices Working Group, sits on the Victim Voices Group, Home Office VAWG Stakeholder Group, NPCC/CPS Honour Abuse Stakeholder Group, and the Forced Marriage Partnership Board. She has been a Panel Member for the CSAFE IIICSA inquiry and holds advisory roles with the Women’s Interfaith Network and Nottingham University’s ‘My Marriage, My Choice’ research project.
Polly is also an Associate at the London Policing College, focusing on Domestic Abuse and Harmful Practice interventions, and holds a Masters Degree in Policing with a specialisation in Investigating Serious Crime.
Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including being highly commended at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in 2013, which led to invitations to Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street. She was named in the Independent on Sunday’s 100 Happy List, recognised at the IKWRO True Honour Award, nominated for the English Asian Business Awards and the National Diversity Awards, and received the GG2 Spirit in the Community Award.
Polly was the first recipient of the Points of Light Award, presented by the Prime Minister on International Women’s Day, and was recognised by Amnesty International as a human rights defender in 2018.
On 10th December 2020, Polly launched the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant (EDAC), the first UK Covenant addressing Domestic Abuse, supported by the government.
Don’t miss out, book your ticket today to experience our fantastic line-up of speakers
Contributors
Carrie Bower
Safeguarding Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead, Age UK
Carrie Bower is a registered social worker and has over 25 years’ experience working with older adults in a local authority, the NHS and the voluntary sector. Carrie’s role as Safeguarding Manager & Domestic Abuse Lead at Age UK includes providing safeguarding advice to all services across the charity, delivering internal training and external speaking on the topic of domestic abuse in later life. Carrie has a specialist interest in domestic abuse and leads on Age UK’s domestic abuse policy for staff, volunteers and Age UK beneficiaries.
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 online 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 an absolute pleasure to work with the PEGS team. They are making huge waves, and like Matt, I am constantly blown away by their impact across the UK and globally. Michelle and her team are super professional and friendly and always make Matt and me feel welcome and part of the team.
Working with purpose-driven organsaitions is an absolute privilege, and navigating the busy world of digital content can be overwhelming when you are tied up in the day-to-day running of a charitable organisation. Being a qualified teacher and trained marketeer, I have combined my skills to be able to support organisations to deploy a range of digital content – including online events and online courses – into their offering, alongside providing the skills and support to enable them to develop connections and significantly grow via digital platforms.
If you need a tech wizard, Matt is the person for you. He’s always cool and calm, friendly and professional.
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.