It Starts with YOU!

Founder of SUTDA, (Stand Up to Domestic Abuse), Patron for WCID – What Can I Do and Ambassador for Locality Solutions

After 18 years in an abusive relationship, Rachel was shot and severely injured by her violent partner in 2011. Rachel spent several weeks in hospital and now lives with life altering injuries.

Rachel campaigns tirelessly and is committed to ending domestic abuse. She has 5 successful petitions on change.org with a combined 1 million signatures.

A qualified IDVA, Rachel also runs an online awareness Facebook page called Stand Up to Domestic Abuse. Her ambition includes to set up the ‘House that Jack Built’ a children and young person’s refuge and place of safety, in memory of her son.

Advisor to Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales

David Challen is domestic abuse campaigner, survivor, advisor and keynote speaker. He successfully campaigned to free his mother, Sally Challen, after almost a decade in prison in a landmark appeal in 2019 that made national and international news, having fought to recognise the lifetime of coercive control she suffered from his father. David continues to speak out against men's violence against women, coercive control and the impact of domestic abuse on children, as well as men's role in tackling misogyny.

CEO of Women’s Aid ABCLN

Gillian is privileged to further the mission of working towards a society where women and children can live from the threat of abuse and her team is determined to bring back hope and empowerment.

Gillian has previously held positions at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London, with the Cancer Fund for Children NI and her primary focus is the health and wellbeing of the mother and child.

Detective Chief Inspector in Public Protection Branch –  Police Service of Northern Ireland

Steph is Detective Chief Inspector in Public Protection Branch that looks after Rape Crime Unit and Domestic Abuse. Steph will be updating attendees on the actions the Police Service of Northern Ireland are taking to tackle violence against women and girls.

CEO and founder of White Ribbon NI

Tahnee works to end violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland. Her ground-breaking "Listen, Learn, Lead" framework has been embraced by organisations across Northern Ireland, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland , Hospitality Ulster , Ulster GAA, The Prison Service of Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Football league.

Tahnee’s passion lies in engaging men and boys as crucial allies, promoting honest dialogue, education, and fierce empathy for lasting change. Her pioneering work within the prison system in Northern Ireland has garnered significant media attention while also yielding promising outcomes among men in custody, including those with a history of abusive behaviour.

Belfast Telegraph Journalist

Kurtis is an award-nominated journalist and technology columnist, specialising in digital news covering crime, politics, business and entertainment. He has specialised in digital news covering crime, politics, business and entertainment. He has extensively covered landmark cases with technological elements, most recently including the Alexander McCartney ‘Newry Catfish’ story, which documented how a man from Northern Ireland became one of the world’s most notorious sexual online predators. Kurtis covers Northern Ireland’s growing tech landscape and has worked closely with global tech giants like Apple, Google and Samsung. His work has taken him across the world to contribute to and attend conferences in Lisbon and Paris. 

Kurtis has appeared on RTE, TalkTV, LBC and Virgin One as a commentator on Northern Ireland current affairs, as well as regularly contributing to The BelTel, The Indo Daily and The Big Tech Show podcasts. He grew up in north Belfast, where he still lives today. 

Kathryn Torney is a freelance journalist and consultant specialising in data journalism, investigations, news and feature writing. She enjoys working with others to produce creative, high-impact storytelling. Kathryn has reported extensively on domestic abuse and led on the photo essay exhibition for today’s conference. She advised Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland on its media guidelines for reporting on abuse and violence against women and girls.