2026 Online Safety in Sport Summit

Learn about summit speakers under each topic below.

Dr Sarah Benson PSM

Chief Executive Officer, Sport Integrity Australia

Dr Sarah Benson PSM was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) in March 2025.

Dr Benson joined SIA as a member of the senior executive team in 2023. She was the inaugural leader of the newly established Safety in Sport Division, with responsibility for driving a nationally coordinated response to sport integrity issues in Australia. Dr Benson established and led the agency’s policy response to prevent and respond to integrity threats to women and girls across all levels of sport in Australia through SIA’s Empowering Women & Girls in Sport Integrity Program. She also established the Law Enforcement Partnership Program to ensure a proactive agency posture in preventing threats to sports from crime.

Dr Benson’s career has been defined by leading national strategy, policy and capability to enhance Australia’s standing in protecting the community and leveraging national reputation to influence global change. Dr Benson is a Board Member of the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (representing 80 international organisations) and Chair of the Global Network of National Sport Integrity Agencies (bringing agencies together to build capability and an enduring global network).

Prior to joining Sport Integrity Australia, Dr Benson was the Chief Forensic Scientist for the Australian Federal Police (AFP). In this role, she was responsible for providing strategic, operational and capability leadership and advice across the AFP’s domestic and international policing responsibilities. In 2019, Dr Benson coordinated Australia’s law enforcement support following the volcanic eruption on White Island in New Zealand. She was also instrumental in the forensic and disaster victim identification support offered to the Netherlands and Ukraine following the 2014 MH17 disaster.

Dr Benson studied at the University of Technology, Sydney and holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Science) – Forensic Analysis of Explosives using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (2009) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Chemistry – Forensic Science (2000). 

In 2021, she was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List; the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) Alumni Award for Excellence (Faculty of Science); and the UTS Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.

Dr Benson is committed to authentic, impactful leadership and fostering strong teams and strategic partnerships that advance the agency’s vision and build a protective ecosystem for sport through to 2032 and beyond.  

Ms Julie Inman Grant

Commissioner, eSafety Commission

Julie Inman Grant PSM is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner and leads the world’s first government regulatory agency dedicated to keeping its citizens safer online.

Appointed in January 2017, Julie has transformed eSafety into a globally recognised regulator, expanding its remit, capability and impact while implementing world-leading initiatives and frameworks to address online harms.

Julie began her career at the US Congress in Washington, DC, before spending 17 years at Microsoft in senior corporate affairs roles. She later established Twitter’s public policy and philanthropy programmes across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and led Government Relations across APAC for Adobe.

As Commissioner, Julie has driven significant regulatory reform and launched innovative initiatives such as Safety by Design, Women in the Spotlight and a tech trends horizon scanning program to anticipate emerging online harms. This includes establishing and uplifting a range of public complaints and investigations schemes to deliver rapid and compassionate harms remediation for Australians experiencing serious online abuse. 

Under her leadership, eSafety has embedded a holistic, ecosystem-based model of regulation, applying shared responsibility and accountability across the digital value chain, from platforms to app stores and device manufacturers. A cornerstone of this work is the development and enforcement of world-first systemic industry codes and standards addressing illegal content, age-restricted material and emerging AI harms. These frameworks hold platforms accountable for the design and operation of their services, requiring them to reduce risk at scale and embed Safety by Design.

Julie also successfully led the implementation of Australia’s landmark social media minimum age legislation, the first of its kind globally, placing clear responsibility on age-restricted platforms to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts. Together, these reforms represent a structural shift in online safety regulation, strengthening protections for children and young people while rebalancing accountability across the digital ecosystem.

Julie serves as a Senior Advisor to the Technology Policy Design Centre and is the former Chair of the Australian Digital Platforms Regulatory Forum (DP-REG). She is co-founder and inaugural Chair of the Global Online Safety Regulators Network, a long-serving Board Member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety, and represents Australia in the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Harassment and Abuse.

In 2025, Julie was recognised by the Australian Financial Review as one of the most culturally powerful people in Australia and was named Marie Claire Australia’s ‘Powerhouse of the Year’.

In 2026, she was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours for outstanding service to online safety regulation and recognised by Time Magazine’s ‘Global Health 100’ for her leadership implementing world-first protections for under 16s online.

• You can find more information at esafety.gov.au

Dr Emma Kavanagh

Reader in Sport Psychology & PCPC registered Sport Psychologist, Loughborough University, UK

Emma’s research focuses on interpersonal violence in sport, safe sport and athlete welfare. Most recently her work has introduced the topic of online abuse in sport, advancing understanding of the specific threats online spaces pose to athletes and wider sporting communities and exploring how to safeguard online spaces which increasingly play a pivotal role in (elite) sporting experiences. 

Emma was a member of the recent IOC Expert Consensus group on interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport. 

Emma sits on the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Scientists (CASES) Integrity Advisory Group and was recently awarded a CASES Fellowship for services to the sport and exercise sciences. 

As a sport psychologist and a chartered sport and exercise scientist, Emma has supported athletes and teams at major sporting events including the Commonwealth, Olympic, and Paralympic Games, and brings extensive experience of working within elite performance environments.

Tayla Harris 

World Class Athlete, Social Advocate, Trailblazer

4x All Australian AFLW, 4x Leading Goal Kicker, AFLW Premiership Player (Melbourne, 2022)

Tayla Harris, born on April 16, 1997, in Brisbane, Australia, is a pioneer AFLW player (currently Melbourne Demons Football Club), Boxer and Young Australian of the Year (2021). Growing up in a sports-oriented family, Harris exhibited a natural aptitude for athletics from a young age. Tayla’s rise to prominence began in 2016 at 17, when she landed a marquee signing with Brisbane for the inaugural AFLW season.

At 17, she made her debut in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition for the Brisbane Lions in 2017. Her remarkable skills as a forward quickly garnered attention, marking her as one of the most promising talents in the league and in her first year she received All-Australian team selection. In 2018 Tayla made the decision to move to Melbourne and was traded to Carlton where she played for 4 years, and earned 2 additional All-Australian selections (2018, 2020), she was also Carlton’s leading goalkicker, and AFLW’s Mark of the Year recipient twice.

In 2022, Tayla made the move to join the Melbourne Football Club where she still currently plays, helping form part of the team that took out the Season 7 Premiership. In 2024 Tayla had surgeries on both of her shoulders counting her out for the season, in 2025 she was back to her best with multiple Mark of the Year nominations and an impressive finals campaign with the Demons. 

In addition to her AFLW achievements, Tayla is a talented dual-sports athlete with an impressive professional boxing resume, boasting 8-wins, 1-loss and 1-draw. She has previously held 2 weight division titles as an Australian Champion, a testament to her incredible athletic ability, toughness and desire to push boundaries and reach greatness across two sports. Tayla has aspirations to regain her Australian title, and one day, fight for a World Title.

Off the field, and outside of the ring, Tayla’s impact has been historical. In 2019 after a photograph of Tayla kicking a goal became the target of online trolling, she courageously used the experience to fight online bullying and promote greater respect towards female athletes, and has continued to use her platform to champion causes related to gender equality, body positivity, and mental health awareness. Through her raw talent, advocacy work and public speaking engagements, she continues to inspire others to challenge societal norms and strive for positive change, paving the way for future generations of female athletes.

Sarah Cook OLY

Chief Executive Officer, Rowing Australia

Sarah is a two-time Olympian in Rowing and Australian representative in Sailing who has become a respected leader in global sport, championing gender equality and sport for development. 

Sarah is the CEO of Rowing Australia and a Member of the World Rowing Council – the international governing body for the sport. 

Sarah was the first non-British woman to be elected a Steward of the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in the UK and has also been an international broadcast commentator for World Rowing for the past 13 years.

Ben Williams

FIFA World Cup Referee (retired)

Campbell Harrison OLY

Pro-Climber, Rock Climbing

Jason Poulton

Detective Senior Sergeant, Victoria Police 

Jason is a Detective Senior Sergeant attached to the Victoria Police Sporting Integrity Unit. With over 29 years of operational policing experience, Jason's diverse career includes significant operational and management roles within various investigative units including Organised Crime, Homicide, Arson & Explosives, Regional Crime and Taskforces, successfully leading investigations into homicides in the organised crime environment. 

Jason commenced his role at the Sporting Integrity Unit in October 2022 and has since played a vital role in managing investigations into match-fixing and race-fixing, enhancing the delivery of policing services to sports integrity stakeholders, improving relationships with sports governing bodies and government agencies and increasing intelligence sharing opportunities. His extensive experience and proactive approach to emerging challenges positions him as a key contributor within law enforcement in the joint endeavour to protect the integrity of sport.   

Bryan Downie

Executive Manager, Complaints and Investigations, eSafety Commissioner

Brenna Dodds

Director Integrity Complaints, Sport Integrity Australia

Brenna joined Sport Integrity Australia in 2021 and currently heads up the agency’s Integrity Complaints team who manage allegations of discrimination and breaches of the safeguarding children and young people policy on behalf of sporting organisations that have adopted the National Integrity Framework. 

Brenna started her career in international engagement and policy before spending a number of years focused on capability and operations in the Australian Border Force. Her work in the Australian Border Force included establishing joint operations with our Five-Eye partners, leveraging upon each country’s skills and capabilities to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes.

Upon commencing with the agency in September 2021, Brenna led the capability team responsible for building the end-to-end Complaints Process under the National Integrity Framework. Brenna believes strongly in anchoring to her core values and applying a people-centered approach to service delivery. Brenna is open minded and committed to continuous improvement - she has a keen interest in enhancing stakeholder relationships and information sharing to support our goal of keeping the Australian community safe in sport.
 

Lauren Halliwell

General Manager, Integrity and Security, Basketball Australia 

As the General Manager of Integrity and Security at Basketball Australia, Lauren leads a national team responsible for protecting the integrity and safety of the sport. Her role spans a broad portfolio across integrity and security, including child safeguarding, gambling, and match-fixing, respectful behaviours, anti-doping, and social media abuse, alongside the planning and delivery of risk assessments and security measures for national and international events. 

With over a decade of experience in policing, Lauren brings a strong investigative and people-first approach to her work. She is focused on supporting her team and driving practical, education-led outcomes that strengthen culture and create safe, fair environments across the game. 

Facilitator: Mr Daragh Galvin

Director, Safer Communities team, eSafety Commissioner

Daragh is the Director of eSafety’s Safer Communities team, which develops and delivers online safety programs to support communities most at risk of online harm. The team is responsible for ensuring eSafety’s support for these key audiences is targeted, effective and keeping pace with emerging technologies and online safety trends.

A key portfolio within the team is eSafety’s Sport program, which supports sporting administrators, coaches, officials, parents, athletes and competitors with advice, guidance and practical online safety support. 

The team works across all levels of Australian sport to understand emerging and key online harms affecting the sector, as well as collaborating with sporting entities and peak bodies to ensure support is tailored and effective.

Joanne Cameron

Commander Human Exploitation, Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 

In March 2026, Joanne commenced the role of Commander Human Exploitation and leads the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE). In her role, Joanne is also responsible for leading the coordination and respond to human exploitation in all its forms, including the online exploitation of children and response to modern slavery, with a key focus on protecting and supporting victims, and removing them from harm. 

Formerly a high school teacher, Joanne joined the AFP in 1997 and has undertaken a wide variety of roles over the past 29 years. This included almost 20 years dedicated to ACT Policing leading a range of portfolios across General Duties, Investigations, Criminal Intelligence and Community Safety. 

In the Commonwealth context Joanne has led teams and portfolios across crime types including human trafficking, people smuggling and offshore harm of Australians. She has led AFP Forensics Command, Intelligence and Covert Services, the AFP’s focus on innovation and use of strategic insights thinking, and in 2023 performed the role of Chief of Staff to the AFP Commissioner.

In 2016 Joanne was awarded the ACT Community Protection Medal for her service in leading operational reforms and interagency coordination in the context of family violence. In 2023, Joanne was awarded the Australian Police Medal.

Joanne holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Management (AIPM), and in 2020, attained a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies during her studies at the Australian Defence College, Canberra.

Ben Au

Head of Public Policy, Australia and New Zealand, Snap 

Ben is Snap's Head of Public Policy for Australia and New Zealand, where he also serves as Snap's Safety Lead for the region. He previously led policy and government affairs at IGEA, the peak body representing the video games industry across ANZ. 

Prior to industry, Ben spent over a decade in the Australian Government as a policy adviser, including roles at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Communications, the Attorney-General's Department, and a Royal Commission.

Libby Cook-Black

Founder and Managing Director, The Female Co

Libby is a proud Zenadth Kes woman from Erub Island in the Torres Strait, with strong kinship ties to the Butchulla and Mununjali peoples of Queensland. Her journey has taken her from representing Australia as an athlete to now leading work at the intersection of sport, culture, and leadership. 

She is the Founder and Managing Director of The Female Co, a not-for-profit organisation using sport as a vehicle to empower young women, particularly those from regional, remote, and First Nations communities in Far North Queensland. Through high-performance programs, education, and mentoring, she focuses on creating environments where young women feel seen, supported, and equipped to navigate both on-field and off-field spaces. 

A big part of her work and lived experience sits in understanding visibility, what it means to be seen, to use your voice, and to show up fully, while also navigating the realities that come with that. For many of us, particularly as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, being visible requires a deeper awareness of cultural responsibility, community expectations, and personal safety, especially in online spaces. 

She is passionate about supporting young people to step into their identity and leadership with confidence, while also being equipped with the awareness and tools to take up opportunities in ways that feel safe, grounded, and true to who they are.

Linley Frame

National Wellbeing Manager, Swimming Australia 

Linley Frame has been the National Wellbeing Manager at Swimming Australia since 2018, leading the design and delivery of wellbeing education and support for athletes across the high-performance pathway. 

She works with Olympic and Paralympic athletes, while also developing programs that help emerging athletes understand how wellbeing supports both performance and long-term career success. 

Her work includes education and career development, personal growth opportunities, mental health referrals, on-team wellbeing support during major campaigns, and alumni engagement. Linley is passionate about helping athletes thrive in both sport and life, creating environments where wellbeing and performance go hand in hand.

With more than 20 years’ experience in sport, Linley combines personal insight with professional expertise. An Olympian and former World Champion, she has also built a successful career as a sports administrator, media commentator, and keynote speaker.

Corinna Baldock

Integrity Officer (Education), Hockey Australia 

Corrina Baldock is an experienced education and program leader with over 15 years’ experience across education, community sport and national sporting organisations. 

She has led large-scale education, participation and workforce development initiatives at Hockey Australia, Hockey NSW, Cricket NSW, Cricket Australia and Surfing Australia, with expertise spanning strategic program design, stakeholder engagement, child safety, integrity education and system-wide capability building. 

Beginning her career as a PDHPE teacher, Corrina brings a strong understanding of curriculum, student wellbeing and educational practice, combined with a passion for creating inclusive, evidence-informed programs that deliver meaningful community impact.

Briar Sefo

General Manager, Integrity, Australian Athletics

Dan Stuk

Head of Integrity, Tennis Australia  

Daniel Stuk is the Director of Integrity and Compliance at Tennis Australia, based in Melbourne. Daniel commenced his legal practice in 2006 at Minter Ellison Lawyers and has been at Tennis Australia for the last ten years working in various legal and integrity related roles. Daniel now leads TA’s efforts to protect the sport of tennis in Australia from integrity threats such as online abuse, corruption, doping and child safeguarding. He also oversees Tennis Australia’s insurance portfolio, privacy compliance, litigious matters and corporate risk program.

Daniel has served on various sporting organisation boards including Sports Medicine Australia. He is a member of the ANZSLA Tribunal Referral List, having acted as a Chair and Panel Member in disciplinary hearings for National and State Sporting Organisations. Daniel has previously been shortlisted for the 2020 and 2021 Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel Awards in the category of Sports and Entertainment Lawyer of the Year.

He is a member of Sport Integrity Australia’s Australian Sports Wagering Scheme advisory group and represents Tennis Australia on the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports Steering Committee. His work and research on ticket scalping, part of which was published in the ANSZLA Journal, continues to shape the conversation on anti-scalping legislation in Australia.  

Facilitator: Alexis Cooper

Head of Sport Engagement, Sport Integrity Australia 

Alexis has more than 10 years’ experience in sport integrity, having previously worked as the Director of Education, Director of Media and Communications, Director of Science and Medicine, and Media Adviser across ASADA and Sport Integrity Australia. Prior to this, she worked in several science communication roles across the public service, including the Office of the Chief Scientist of Australia, NHMRC and ANSTO. 

She holds a Bachelor of Media and Communication Studies and a Master of Bioethics, and contributes to sport integrity internationally as a member of the WADA Education Committee, WADA Unintentional Doping Taskforce, and is an accredited WADA Trainer under the Global Learning and Development Framework, where she develops capability training to anti-doping professionals across the Asia Pacific region. 

Alexis is responsible for the Sport Engagement branch in SIA, which includes the Education, Sport Partnerships, Safeguarding and Integrity Complaint teams.