Dr. Esmé Louise James is best known for her online series, podcast and 2023 book Kinky History. The series highlights experiences across sexuality, including gender identity and the queer community throughout history - showing that sexuality has always been a part of humanity.

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She completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2024, with her thesis tracing an aesthetic of the erotic across 18th century literature.
 

“Women are not safe in this country. The crisis of male violence continues to stain our society, our homes and our lives. Some people would rather fight tooth and nail to deny it than believe the evidence and our experience - this wilful misogyny enables tragedies like this to continue to happen.”

“If you’re not part of the problem, you don’t get in the way of the solution.”

April is changing the landscape for body acceptance and fat positivity - from the stage to TV, radio, and her online presence as @thebodzilla.

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“I'm a victim-survivor of intimate partner abuse. Reclaiming my body over the last 8 years has shown me what I went through was more than just a bad relationship; I want other people living in fat bodies to know that they don't need to settle for anything less than a respectful, safe relationship.”

Antoinette Lattouf is a multi-award-winning journalist, columnist, author, TED X speaker, human rights advocate, and mental health ambassador. She is the co-founder of Media Diversity Australia and the co-host of The Antoinettes podcast.

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“Violence against women is being live streamed on our phones from Gaza. Closer to home, we're witnessing another epidemic and are struggling to shift the conversation into meaningful action.”

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“Projects like this continue to bring intersectional feminism to the forefront. When we think about violence against women, we’re often not thinking about all the women and girls who experience it around the globe, let alone those on our shores.

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“I’m doing this for my two daughters, who I’m proud to see evolving into clever feminists – but I'm also acutely aware that they will have to go out into a world that isn’t designed to protect them. I have an enormous responsibility.”

Azure is a commissioned poet, actress, TED Speaker, GRAMMY™ considered recording artist, entrepreneur. She is also a diversity, equity, and inclusion thought leader and corporate advisor.

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“I’ve advocated to change society through arts and entertainment all my life. Even in tragedy, I am awestruck by the connections I get to make with incredible human beings who will not stand for the injustice of others.”

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“I’m here for every story that hasn’t been told. I’m here for the younger me that took 20 years to come forward about being assaulted three different times. I’m here for my daughters, I’m here for my sons, I’m here for my wife. I’m here for the thousands of people I connected with at the Sydney and Melbourne rallies. I’m here for the people I haven’t met and will never meet, and the stories that are silenced. We must continue to be vigilant and leave this world a better place than how we found it.”

Belle Bambi is one of the most followed trans content creators in Australia. She uses her online platform to help educate and spread awareness about trans people and how they just want love and acceptance like anyone else.

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“This project means the world to me. This has been an ongoing fight for a very long time and we still have a long way to go. Not only do we need to stand up for all women, but statistically, trans women like myself are targeted by violence at the hands of men at an alarming rate. So be loud and strong with me.”

Bianca is a proud Kamilaroi, Barkindji, Ballardong and Whadjuk woman, and one of this generation's most versatile media personalities. A TV presenter, media personality, and interviewer, Bianca's career spans sport, travel, fashion and music journalism.

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“Growing up as a teenager, every magazine cover was about how to lose weight, and conform to beauty standards. None of the models looked like me.”

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“When I was younger I was told I wasn’t what our society considered to be beautiful. But now I’m being told I’ve only made it because I’m a woman, and because I’m pretty. You can’t win either way.”

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“It’s so important that we keep speaking up, even though we’ve been talking about this forever. I’m here to represent, own being myself, and show women that they are perfect the way they are.”

Clare is a public speaker, animal behaviourist and the president of Wildwood Animal Rescue, which focuses on rescuing dogs in Victoria. A neurodiverse, bisexual & staunch feminist, she is known for her online presence which she uses to highlight social issues and for calling out the harm of reality shows following her appearance on Married at First Sight in 2016.

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“I’m doing this because men’s violence has affected me greatly in my life . Through different workplaces, being attacked trying to walk my dog, being sexually assaulted time and time again, to not being safe in my own home. I am tired of keeping bad men’s secrets. So, I’m not doing it anymore. My rage has overtaken my fear.”

Georgie Purcell is the youngest woman in Victoria's Parliament. A staunch feminist, she believes that we need more young and diverse women represented in the halls of power. Open about her past as a sex worker and known for calling out misogyny, Georgie has transformed legislation to support family and domestic violence survivors and to progress the rights of women. Georgie is committed to using her position of power to make Victoria a safer, kinder place.

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“Politics has struggled to accept women who are multi-faceted, with different and colourful pasts who refuse to hide parts of themselves - and to realise how we look and who we are doesn't dictate our right to respect or ability to do our jobs, and to do them safely. The online gendered violence and abuse is what makes space for the escalation of men's violence in our country today, and it’s time to get explicit about it.”

Dr. Kirsten Banks is a proud Wiradjuri woman and astrophysicist with an undeniable passion for space and astronomy.

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Having completed her PhD in June 2024, Kirsten loves to communicate about science, including through print and broadcast media, social media as @astrokirsten, and local and international speaking opportunities.

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“To put it simply, I’m sick of women being murdered. There are days when I can’t get out of bed because of what’s happening. To come together to show that we are a force to be reckoned with is a really powerful thing to do.

“I’m doing this for me, for every woman in science and every woman to come in science. I want to show them that even in this current social climate, that you can take up space and be a powerful woman in these fields.”

Maddy MacRae is an Australian actor, content creator and comedian known for her viral skits about dating, sex positivity, and female pleasure.

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“I’ve gone for a playful, feminine vibe, but there’s an undertone of being a 1950s housewife and challenging the traditional expectations that we should all aspire to be a wife and a mother - which should be our choice and not our predetermined destiny.”

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“I’ve always been told to repress my femininity ‘just in case’. I’ve stood aside to let a man pass me on the street ‘just in case’, I’ve cancelled solo travel plans ‘just in case’, and the women I worked with at the football club all clocked off early ‘just in case’.

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“Shockingly, women in Australia take these precautions but in some cases, they won't be safe. But so many of us are raised to remove the temptation, not the cause.

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“I want all women to feel safe and empowered in their lives without those moments of ‘just in case’.”

Rachel Payne is the Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Region in Victorian Parliament’s Legislative Council, representing the Legalise Cannabis Party. She is a longstanding advocate for women’s health, sex positivity, equality and inclusivity, and is a proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community. Before politics, Rachel successfully campaigned to end discrimination against adults-only businesses, as well as the decriminalisation of sex work.

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“I'm 'getting explicit' for my Grandmother Doll, my Mum Julie and my Aunty Sally, who have been directly impacted by family violence and the ongoing impacts of trauma and abuse. 

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“As a legislator, I am standing up, stripping down and provoking the status quo to take notice and recognise that it is up to all of us, especially those in positions of power, to take action and say 'enough is enough'. We need to create meaningful change!”

Rudy Jean Rigg is an award winning autistic, non-binary trans creative, entertainer and LGBTQIA+ advocate. They are the co-creator of Rainbow History Class, the queer and trans history you don’t get in school, and TransAtheltica - a documentary series looking at the barriers trans people face in sport.

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“I stand in fierce solidarity with women as the hundreds of years of violence continues to take its toll. Enough is enough.”

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“Nobody benefits under the patriarchy and we all deserve better. I’m here for all the women and people of all genders who have suffered at the hands of abusers – I’m here to help make a change.”

Sharon Johal is a trailblazing Australian and International actor, presenter, writer and human rights advocate/lawyer. She’s known for her acting roles in The Twelve, Ricky Stanicky, Shantaram and Neighbours.

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A proud Punjabi Sikh woman, Sharon has broken barriers of representation as the “first” in a plethora of spaces and has been at the forefront of courageously championing human rights on and off screen, on her podcast and is an in demand host, panel speaker and diversity and inclusivity consultant. 

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“I wanted to present myself in vulnerable form stripped back without makeup/hair but wanted to experience presenting myself not for the male gaze or control, and instead try to embody the innate power and privilege that men get to exist with by default, without scrutiny or fear for their safety. My body is not for men, it is for me.”

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“I have seen violence against women nearly my whole life within our families, communities, friends and also representing copious numbers of women as a family lawyer in the courts who were failed by the Australian legal system. So much change needs to happen on so many levels within so many communities and I will continue to do whatever I can to help. I am proud to stand amongst and support these women for change.”

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