MEET OUR SPEAKERS
BETTINA ARNDT AM
Bettina Arndt AM is one of Australia's best-known social commentators and a pioneering clinical psychologist and sex therapist. Over several decades she has contributed to national debates and government inquiries on family law, child support, gender equity and social policy. Today, Bettina continues to be a prominent advocate for men, women and children through her writing, media appearances and public commentary.
DR STANLEY KOROSI
Parents Beyond Breakup,
Australia
Dr Stanley Korosi is Chairperson and Research Lead for Parents Beyond Breakup, a national charity dedicated to suicide prevention and supporting parents to remain connected with their children. A clinical sociologist, researcher and policy consultant, his work focuses on parental alienation, social alienation, suicide prevention and family policy reform. Stan also serves on the Board of the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG), contributing to international research and thought leadership in the field.
EMERITUS PROFESSOR EDWARD KRUK
Emeritus Professor Edward Kruk is an internationally recognised authority on shared parenting, parental alienation and family law, with more than four decades of experience as a social worker, academic and family mediator. He is the author of five books and more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, including the influential The Equal Parent Presumption. Edward is President of the International Council on Shared Parenting and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award for his contribution to children and families.
EMERITUS PROFESSOR PATRICK PARKINSON AM
Emeritus Professor Patrick Parkinson AM is one of Australia's foremost family law scholars, with an internationally respected career spanning academia, law reform and public policy. He has authored numerous leading texts on family law, child protection and children's rights, and has played a significant role in shaping Australian family law through government advisory positions. Patrick is also an experienced mediator and arbitrator and currently serves as Executive Director of Publica.
MARK KOOLMATRIE
Mark Koolmatrie is a proud Ngarrindjeri cultural lawman, educator and founder of the award-winning Kool Tours, sharing the rich stories and living culture of his ancestral lands. Throughout his career he has championed Aboriginal cultural education, heritage preservation and the strengthening of identity through connection to Country. A respected community leader, Mark continues to inspire future generations through his commitment to culture, family and community.
PROF WILLIAM BERNET
(Virtual Presentation)
Professor William Bernet, MD, is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an internationally recognised expert in child, forensic and general psychiatry. A founding figure in the study of parental alienation, he has authored and edited numerous landmark publications that have shaped both clinical practice and legal understanding worldwide. Professor Bernet is the founder and inaugural President of the Parental Alienation Study Group (PASG) and has provided expert forensic testimony in more than 300 cases across the United States.
MELANIE GILL
Attachment and Forensic Assessment Consultancy, United Kingdom
Melanie Gill is an attachment specialist, psychologist and forensic consultant with more than 20 years' experience in trauma, parental alienation and high-conflict family matters. Her work combines attachment science, neuroscience and trauma-informed practice to support courts and professionals in understanding complex family dynamics. Melanie is an internationally recognised educator committed to evidence-based practice and protecting children from psychological harm.
JOHN GOMEZ
Kizuna Child-Parent Reunion NGO,
United States / Japan
John Gomez is Chairperson of Kizuna Child-Parent Reunion and has been advocating for children and families in Japan since 2013. A Harvard graduate, he has represented civil society at the United Nations and served on the Hague Conference Steering Committee. His work has received international recognition, with media coverage published in nine languages.
DAWN MCCARTY
Securing Everything,
United States
Dawn McCarty is a criminologist and cybersecurity specialist pioneering new approaches to understanding coercive control and child psychological abuse. She applies forensic threat assessment methodologies across multiple disciplines to strengthen safeguarding practices. Dawn is also an international bestselling author, founder of Thrivers Speak® and co-founder of the Nothing About Us, Without Us (NAUWOU™) conferences.
DR DEMOSTHENES LORANDOS
Attorney, Forensic Psychologist, Editor, Writer
(Virtual Presentation)
Dr Demosthenes Lorandos is an internationally recognised forensic psychologist, attorney and legal scholar with more than 50 years' experience in behavioural science and the law. Editor-in-Chief of the Litigator's Handbook of Forensic Medicine, Psychiatry and Psychology, he is a leading authority on forensic litigation, expert evidence and
parental alienation.
DAVID PISARRA
Dad's Law School & Union of Dads,
United States
David Pisarra is a California family law attorney and founder of Dad's Law School and Union of Dads, supporting thousands of self-represented fathers. Drawing on extensive experience in custody disputes and domestic violence matters, he examines the intersection of false abuse allegations and parental alienation. David is a widely recognised educator with a substantial online following.
DR JENNIFER HARMAN
Associate Professor, Pyschology
Colorado State University
(Virtual Presentation
Dr. Jennifer Harman is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Colorado State University and a world-renowned social psychologist who specializes in the scientific study of parental alienation and family violence. She earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Connecticut in 2005 and has dedicated over a decade to quantitative and qualitative research on how parents weaponise children against each other
TONY NIKOLIC
Ashley, Francina, Leonard & Associates,
NSW, Australia
Tony Nikolic is a solicitor, author and advocate specialising in family law, human rights and civil liberties. His work focuses on government accountability, public interest litigation and systemic issues within the justice system. Tony is also a respected media commentator and has studied legal systems internationally.
DR AMY BAKER
Parental Alienation Coach, Researcher, Author
(Virtual Presentation)
Dr. Baker is a nationally recognized expert in parental alienation, and parent-child relationships, especially children of divorce, and emotional abuse of children. She has a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Teachers College of Columbia University. She is the author or co-author of 10 books and over 120 academic articles on topics related to children's well-being.
JIM SMITH
Kidz Need Dadz – Bay of Plenty,
New Zealand
NICOLE WINSLOW
Lived Experience
WA, Australia
Nicole Winslow is a Western Australian aviation professional and mother of three who brings valuable lived experience to discussions on parental alienation. Following her own family's experience navigating the family law system, she has become a passionate advocate for greater understanding of the impacts on parents and children. Nicole shares her story to help inform professionals and promote better outcomes for families.
DR BEN HINE
University of West London
(Virtual Presentation)
Dr Ben Hine is a psychologist, academic and author specialising in parental alienation, family breakdown and the experiences of men and boys. He leads the Evidence-Based Domestic Abuse Research Network (EBDARN), chairs the British Psychological Society's Male Psychology Section, and is a recognised researcher, advocate and author in family psychology and policy.