Lula Dembele is a specialist in gender relations and anti-patriarchal systems change. She’s a passionate survivor advocate for victims of childhood sexual abuse, childhood and adult domestic violence. Combining lived experience and professional expertise in strategic policy and gender mainstreaming, Lula has dedicated herself to working on structural and cultural change to end violence against women. In 2018, Lula established the Accountability Matters Project to re-frame domestic violence from being seen as ‘women’s issue’, and drive national efforts to reduce ‘men’s use of sexual, domestic and family violence’. Lula is co-founder of the Independent Collective of Survivors (ICOS), a national group of survivor advocates who support victim survivor advocacy pushing for social and systemic change. Lula has led work in transformative practice to create gender equitable workplaces across Victoria, is a member of the National Plan Advisory Group, a Bravehearts Ambassador, and recently commenced as Director of Lived Expertise, Government Relations, and Advocacy for the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre – Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre Project.