eSafety Symposium 2026: Program and speaker preview
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This is a snapshot of what you can expect and who you’ll learn from at Safer Online Futures.
See our eSafety's 2026 symposium: Safer Online Futures page for more information about the event and frequently asked questions.
Places are limited. Join us on 23 November 2026 at The Fullerton Hotel in Sydney.
In the Regulator's Chair - navigating online safety in 2026
What is it really like to be an online safety regulator in 2026? Hear frank perspectives from international regulators on the challenges, pressures and opportunities shaping the future of online safety.
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Hear from: Dame Melanie Dawes, Chief Executive, Ofcom; the Hon Paul Fletcher, Director, Tech Council of Australia; Jeremy Godfrey, Executive Chairperson, Coimisiún na Meán; Julie Inman Grant PSM, eSafety Commissioner; Francis Ng, Singapore's Online Safety Commissioner
The cost of speaking up online
For many women, speaking out online comes at a significant cost. Jennifer Robinson examines how online attacks and legal processes can be used to intimidate, punish and undermine victim-survivors, drawing on first-hand legal experience at the forefront of high-profile cases.
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Keynote: Jennifer Robinson, international lawyer, advocate, author
The Social Media Minimum Age evaluation - building the global evidence base
How the evaluation of this world-first legislation can contribute to the global conversation on social media, online harms and young people’s wellbeing.
Keynote: Professor Jeff Hancock, Director, Stanford Social Media Lab
From drivers to disruption - tackling terrorist and violent extremist content online
What fuels violent extremism online, and how should we respond? This panel explores the drivers of terrorist and violent extremist content and the implications for prevention, policy and regulation.
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Hear from: Tahli Blicblau, Chief Executive Officer, The Dor Foundation; Dr Yasmin Chilmeran, Principal Strategic Advisor, Christchurch Call Foundation; Brendan Dowling, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Department of Home Affairs; Gemma Huggins, Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism; Mariam Veiszadeh, Founder and Chair, Islamophobia Register Australia
Global issues, global responses - keeping children safe online
From regulation to innovation, this session explores how countries are responding to shared online safety challenges and strengthening protections for children online.
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Hear from: Filipe Batiwale, Fiji's Online Safety Commissioner; Caroline Flora, Chief Censor, New Zealand's Classification Office; Oliver Griffiths, Group Director, Online Safety, Ofcom; David Sullivan, Executive Director, Digital Trust and Safety Partnership
Beyond borders - strengthening the global response to child sexual exploitation and abuse
As child sexual exploitation and abuse transcends borders, this panel explores how regulators and child protection experts can strengthen the global response through collaboration, innovation and enforcement.
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Hear from: Joanne Cameron APM, Commander Human Exploitation, Australian Federal Police; Brent Carey, Chief Executive, Netsafe; Colm Gannon, Chief Executive Officer, ICMEC Australia; Arda Gerkens, Chair, Netherlands' Authority for the Prevention of Online Terrorist Content and Child Sexual Abuse Material (ATKM); Emilio Puccio, Secretary General, European Parliament’s Intergroup on Children's Rights
The protection gap - what are we getting wrong?
Examining the gaps in how we prevent, respond to and recover from online harm, this panel explores the partnerships and solutions needed to better support those affected.
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Hear from: Sarah Davies AM, Chief Executive Officer, Alannah & Madeline Foundation; Micaela Cronin, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner; Wayne Holdsworth, Founder, SmackTalk; Conor Pall, family violence advocate
Deepfakes - different perspectives, shared challenges
As deepfakes become increasingly sophisticated, this session explores their impacts and the practical steps young people, families and schools can take to prevent and respond to harm.
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Hear from: Kellie Britnell, Manager, Awareness and Capability, eSafety; Pauline Kotselas, Leader, Psychology and Wellbeing Services, NSW Department of Education; Emma Mason, lawyer and child online safety advocate; Dr Naomi Pfitzner, Director, Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Hub
Insights and innovation
Discover the ideas, evidence and emerging thinking shaping the future of online safety. These fast-paced sessions bring together researchers, practitioners and subject-matter experts to share fresh insights, practical experience and new approaches to some of the most pressing online safety challenges.
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Hear from: Dr Raffaele Ciriello, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, University of Sydney; Dr Krista Fisher, Young Men's Health Research Fellow, Movember Institute of Men’s Health; Professor Michael Salter, Director, Childlight; Rick Brown, Deputy Director, Australian Institute of Criminology
Evidence for the future - informing online safety policy, regulation and intervention
From the Social Media Minimum Age evaluation to critical research gaps, this session explores the evidence shaping the future of online safety policy.
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Hear from: Julian Sefton-Green, Professor of New Media Education, Deakin University; Professor Amanda Third, Professorial Research Fellow and Co-Director, Young and Resilient Research Centre; Raghu Vijayan, youth advocate; Professor Jeff Hancock, Director, Stanford Social Media Lab; Professor Susan Sawyer, Chair of Adolescent Health, University of Melbourne;
Content, contexts and cultures - what's in young people's feeds?
Exploring the viral content shaping young people’s attitudes and behaviours, and the practical opportunities to minimise harm and build resilience.
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Hear from: Mia Bannister, Founder and Director, Ollie’s Echo: Pathways to Prevention; Pnina Hagege, Head of Policy, Teach Us Consent; Dr Zac Seidler, Global Director of Men's Health Research, Movember; Dr Stephanie Wescott, feminist lecturer and researcher, Monash University; Bradley, eSafety Youth Council
Last updated: 05/11/2026