About the Summit
The Fathering Summit offers a platform for sharing experiences, discussing research findings, networking and executing innovative strategies to drive meaningful change in the way fathers are perceived and engage in their families’ lives.
We unite a diverse group of participants, including, researchers, advocates, educators, policymakers, fathers and influencers, all committed to reshaping and redefining modern fatherhood.
We will address a wide array of topics that revolve around modern fatherhood including mental health, gender equity and caregiving, deep and persistent disadvantage, family safety, healthy masculinity and breaking down traditional stereotypes.
What to expect
A full day in-person event where you will hear two keynotes from Anne Hollonds, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner and Professor Natasha Cabrera, International leading researcher for fathering and child wellbeing.
Listen to four panel presentations over the course of the day and contribute to group workshop sessions.
Network with thought leaders and industry professionals and collaborate for positive change.
Access the communique
Our Speakers
Prof. Natasha Cabrera
Natasha is Professor of Human Development at the University of Maryland.
Dr. Cabrera’s research focuses on father involvement and children’s social and cognitive development; adaptive and maladaptive factors related to parenting and cultural variation in ethnic minority families; and, the mechanisms linking early experiences to children’s school readiness.
Dr. Cabrera has published in peer-reviewed journals on policy, methodology, theory and the implications of fathering and mothering behaviors on child development in low-income minority families. She is the co-editor of the Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 2nd Edition (Taylor & Francis, 2013) and Latina/o Child Psychology and Mental Health: Vol 1 and 2 (Praeger, 2011). Dr. Cabrera is former Associate Editor of Child Development and the recipient of the National Council and Family Relations award for Best Research Article regarding men in families in 2009. In 2015, the National Academy of Sciences appointed her to its committee on parents of young children; in 2016, she was a Russell Sage Foundation Visiting Scholar; and, in 2017 she was a DAAD visiting scholar, University of Ruhr, Germany. She is co-PI at the National Center for Research on Hispanic Families and Children co-directing the fatherhood and healthy marriage focus area.
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Dr. Zac Seidler
Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist and Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember.
He currently holds dual roles as Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember and Senior Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne.
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Prof. Michael Flood
Professor Michael Flood is an internationally recognised researcher on men, masculinities, and gender, and an advocate and educator, based at the Queensland University of Technology.
Anne Hollands
Anne Hollonds is Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner.
Formerly Director of the Australian Institute of Family Studies, for 23 years Anne was Chief Executive of government and non-government organisations focussed on research, policy and practice in child and family wellbeing.
As a psychologist Anne worked extensively in frontline practice, including child protection, domestic and family violence, mental health, child and family counselling, parenting education, and family law counselling. Anne currently contributes to several expert advisory groups, including the Family Law Council, Australian Child Maltreatment Study, NSW Domestic and Family Violence and Sexual Assault Council, National Plan Advisory Group (NPAG), and Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel.
Michael Ray
Michael is not only the author of the empowering book ‘Who Knew?,” but he has also earned a spot in LinkedIn’s Top Ten Gender Equity Voices for 2022. As a dedicated solo dad, he prioritises the essential role of fatherhood and challenges traditional male stereotypes and stigmas.
Michael’s personal journey has inspired him to advocate for a paradigm shift in how society views and values the contributions of men as nurturing parents.
In his impactful presentations and public speaking engagements, Michael shares his insights and experiences, encouraging men and fathers to actively engage in the upbringing of their children. His compelling message emphasises the importance of recognising and celebrating men for their parenting skills rather than focusing solely on income, position, or power.
With a passion that resonates, Michael delivers his message to both organisations and individuals, backed by concrete actionable research and guidance. He addresses outdated gender and societal roles, highlighting their negative impact on organisational, business, and personal outcomes. Michael envisions a future where fatherhood is celebrated on par with motherhood, fostering a more inclusive and supportive society for all.
Daisy Turnbull
Daisy Turnbull is Director of coeducation.
She has taught at St Catherine’s School in Sydney for eight years, and before that taught across school systems, including at a behavioural school working with students with varying challenges.
Before going into teaching, she worked in interactive advertising as a producer and in strategy roles. Daisy is an accredited Lifeline crisis support counsellor and regularly volunteers on the crisis support line. She is the mother of two children, and holds a Combined Bachelors degree in Arts/Commerce, a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Teaching, and a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies.
Dr James Brown
James is a registered Clinical Psychologist with 18 years of experience in organisational and private settings, focusing on supporting men’s psychological health.
His recent PhD explored the significance of father-child relationship closeness and barriers to father involvement.
In addition to his clinical work, James is also a Clinical Educator for Southern Queensland Rural Health, as well as a supervisor and trainer. Previously James has taught in the university sector in post graduate psychology programs, and has provided professional advisory services to members of the Australian Psychological Society.
James enjoys family time with his wife Michelle and their four children. In his spare time James enjoys music, cooking, bushwalking and travel. He is a member of an award winning a ‘Capella singing group, Monday Nights.
Doug Taylor
Doug Taylor was appointed CEO of The Smith Family in August 2021. He has built a 30-year career in the social sector with national and international experience in leading innovative social impact initiatives in partnership with the not-for-profit, government, philanthropic and corporate sectors.
Prior to joining The Smith Family, Doug was the Deputy Executive Director at Uniting NSW and ACT. He has considerable experience in strategy and in managing large and complex organisations serving people experiencing disadvantage through human services, community and economic development, education, philanthropy, and social enterprise.
Doug’s passion for the sector is evident through his Board appointments which include Wayside Chapel and as Chair of Warakirri College (a school for disengaged young people in Western Sydney) and previously with WorkVentures and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation. He is also a member of the Centre for Social Impact Advisory Board (with whom he facilitates Governance for Social Impact), The Sydney University Equity Advisory Group, a Community Fellow with Western Sydney University and Chair of the National Strategy for Volunteering Council.
Doug has completed post graduate studies in management, attended the Stanford Executive Non-Profit Leadership Program and is a graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
Dr. Jodi Richardson
Dr Jodi is one of Australia’s thought leaders in managing anxiety and amplifying wellbeing.
She supports parents, teachers and other professionals in understanding anxiety, changing their relationship with it, dialing it right down, and showing how others in their lives can do the same.
Jodi is an international speaker, best selling author of “Anxious Kids” and “Anxious Mums”, a wellbeing science consultant, creator and host of the award winning podcast, “Well, Hello Anxiety”, and a respected media commentator.
Josh Waldhorn
Josh Waldhorn, a versatile figure in the world of stage and screen, comes from a lineage of creative talents, being the son of English actor Gary Waldhorn and American novelist Christie Dickason.
Following in his family’s footsteps, Josh has excelled in various creative endeavours, including conceiving, designing, directing, managing, and performing.
He has worked across different platforms, from TV commercials to immersive cabaret, and has showcased his talents at renowned venues worldwide, including the London Roundhouse, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Sydney Opera House.
With over three decades of experience in the UK and Australia, Josh has developed a keen eye for branding, design, events, and messaging. He is also a devoted father of two boys. Recently, he showcased his adventurous side on Channel 9’s reality TV show “The Summit,” as an experienced trekker who has conquered challenging peaks around the world, including Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Aconcagua.
Andrew King
Andrew King is the Practice Specialist, Groupwork and Community Education Manager at Relationships Australia, NSW.
Andrew is a leading group work specialist in community services, counselling and health. A respected author of multiple textbooks and training programs, he has devoted a large part of his career to group work and working with men, fathering and domestic violence.
He is the author of several recent books – Engaging men’s responses to family violence (2017); Generative Fathering: Engaging men into family based programs (2019) and Continual Change Groupwork – 2nd Edition (2023).
Dr. Vincent Mancini
Dr Vincent Mancini is the inaugural Fathering Project Research Fellow based at Telethon Kids Institute in Perth, Western Australia.
Vincent is a trained psychologist and clinician-researcher who has worked to empower families to support their children’s mental health and wellbeing.
Currently, Vincent’s work focuses on removing the barriers to father involvement and optimising their relationships with their children and families. His most recent highlights include three pioneering studies that helped to (a) explore the role of self-compassion as a factor to enhance father-child relationships, (b) better understand how fathers use online platforms to connect and support each other, and (c) shed light on the hidden impact that birth trauma has on new fathers.
To date, Vincent’s research has attracted more than $1.8m AUD in competitive research funding. He has an accomplished academic track-record spanning more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, multiple award-winning conference presentations, book chapters, and more than 30 students supervised.
Kobie Dee
Kobie Dee is one of the most exciting voices in Australian Hip Hop. With an innate gift for storytelling and connecting with young people, Kobie is inspiring the next generation.
He is a proud Gomeroi man from Moree, who grew up on Bidjigal Land in Maroubra, Sydney. He is a father of two – a daughter aged 4 and a newborn son 3 months of age. Kobie is passionate about changing the narrative and perception for black fathers and breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma and disadvantage.
Kobie has first hand experience growing up without his dad present, and the lack of positive male role models at a young age. At 26 years old, Kobie has come a long way in dealing with experiences of mental health challenges, suicidal ideations, substance use and what it means to be a young Indigenous man and young father in this world.
He has a deep understanding of the ongoing impacts of colonisation, trauma and disadvantages for First Nations People across the country, and can speak first hand on the healing power and transformative change that comes through connecting to his culture.
Betsey Stevenson
Betsey Stevenson is a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan. She is also a faculty research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, a visiting associate professor of economics at the University of Sydney, a research fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, a fellow of the Ifo Institute for Economic Research in Munich, and serves on the executive committee of the American Economic Association. She served as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers from 2013 to 2015 where she advised President Obama on social policy, labor market, and trade issues. She served as the chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor from 2010 to 2011, advising the Secretary of Labor on labor policy and participating as the secretary’s deputy to the White House economic team. She has held previous positions at Princeton University and at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Dr. Stevenson is a labor economist who has published widely in leading economics journals about the labor market and the impact of public policies on outcomes both in the labor market and for families as they adjust to changing labor market opportunities. Her research explores women’s labor market experiences, the economic forces shaping the modern family, and how these labor market experiences and economic forces on the family influence each other. She is a columnist for Bloomberg View, and her analysis of economic data and the economy are frequently covered in both print and television media.
Dr Stevenson earned a BA in economics and mathematics from Wellesley College and an MA and PhD in economics from Harvard University.
David Walker
David is married to Bonnie and the proud father of 5.
Originally from Tasmania, David spent 27 years as a surveyor and workplace trainer before transitioning to school chaplaincy. As a chaplain in two primary schools for six years, David predominately worked with fatherless boys.
David witnessed firsthand the impact that fatherlessness has on children and the family unit. Then in 2014 David and his family left Tasmania and travelled Australia in a caravan where he helped home-school the children.
David and his family put down their roots in the Perth Hills, WA and in Sept 2017 David commenced with The Fathering Project. He manages the Community Fathering Program in Western Australia that focuses on engaging fathers and their children in low socio-economic schools through our hubs located in Armadale, Kwinana, Rockingham and Swan.
Dr Samone McCurdy
Samone is an experienced gender equality strategist, researcher and change management professional with expertise in gender equality programming, strategy and gender attuned leadership capability development.
She has post graduate qualifications in psychology and social work and holds a certificate in Gender Mainstreaming from the Civil Service College (London) where she studied under the Hon. Meg Munn – former Minister for Women in the Blair Government (2005-2007).
Samone has published research and analysis on a range of gendered workplace drivers including paid parental leave, flexible work practices and gendered workplace harm such as sexual harassment and workplace incivility.
Andrew Scipione AO APM
As a respected leader known for his integrity, compassion and honesty, Andrew Scipione, AO, APM served as the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force from 2007 until his retirement in 2017. As one of the longest serving police chiefs in NSW history, Andrew is passionate about making Australia a better place to live. Using his extensive experience, he helps audiences face and handle any challenges they face both now and in the future.
