Conference Speakers
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Keynote Speaker
World Conference on Gender and Women's Studies

Dr. Sabitra Kaphle
School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Australia
Speech Title: Love, loss and attachment: social construct of relationships
Dr Sabitra Kaphle is a distinguished expert with over 20 years of international experience in research, education, gender equity, and health policy. Her extensive career spans multiple continents, where she has made significant contributions to advancing gender equity and improving health outcomes in diverse settings. As a qualitative and cross-cultural researcher, Dr Kaphle specializes in designing culturally safe and effective interventions tailored for low-resource, socially complex, remote, and disadvantaged communities. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups, advocating for their equitable access to education, economic resources, and health services.
Dr Kaphle's research delves into the intricate intersections of gender, social inequities, health, culture, and structural disadvantages. Her insights have been instrumental in shaping policies and practices that address these multifaceted issues. Currently, she holds advisory roles in gender-based policy and health systems across numerous countries, where her expertise continues to influence positive change. In addition to her advisory roles, Dr. Kaphle is a prolific author, widely published in her areas of expertise. Her notable works include the book Socio-cultural Insights of Childbirth in South Asia, published by Routledge in 2022. This publication reflects her profound understanding of the socio-cultural dimensions of health and her dedication to fostering culturally informed approaches to healthcare.
Dr Kaphle's passion for gender equity and social justice is evident in her unwavering advocacy for marginalized communities. Her keynote address, titled "Love, Loss, and Attachment: Social Construct of Relationships," draws from her personal experiences of migration and the various stages of relationships. Framed as a critical autoethnography, her talk offers valuable perspectives on developing culturally appropriate solutions to promote gender equity across diverse communities.
Meet the Past Speakers
World Conference on Gender and Women's Studies

Dr. Christina Hicks-Goldston
Austin Peay State University, United States
Speech Title: Confronting While Lifting: the Challenges of Women's Empowerment in the Face of Global Unraveling
Dr. Christina Hicks-Goldston is a Professor of Communication and Graduate Program Coordinator at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. Her research areas include women’s and gender Studies, diversity, interpersonal communication, and media history. Currently, she is working on an educational initiative combating disinformation and misinformation by utilizing multi-media methods that teach students how to critically evaluate media messages, identify pseudo experts, fact-check information, and identify propaganda techniques.
Dr. MEHDAOUI Djamila
Djamila is an associate professor and a researcher at Saida University. She supervises Master/magister theses at Saida University, Algeria. She regularly participates in inter/national conferences and study days in Algerian and European universities. She obtained her PhD degrees from the university of Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria. She has published many book’s chapters and articles in English. Among these: Women’s Politics of Resistance in Making the Invisible Visible. Her research interests include comparative literature, Gender studies, Postcolonial women’s literature.
Rachel Tomlinson
Rachel is a Psychologist who has worked in domestic violence, women’s refuges, play therapy, parenting programs, and torture and trauma counselling. Rachel is the author of two books “Teaching Kids to be Kind” (Skyhorse) and “A Blue Kind of Day” (Penguin/Kokila). She is a sought-after expert in the media, and has featured on television, podcasts, radio and print. She has guest lectured, and presented at national and international conferences.
Seonhwa Lee
Seonhwa Lee, a cellist and Ph.D. candidate in Musicology at the University of Music Freiburg, focuses on gender issues, 19th-century music history, and artistic research. She completed with top marks a Bachelor's degree and an Artistic Diploma in Mannheim, and earned Master's degrees in music performance and music education from Dresden and Basel. Lee has won numerous international competitions and has performed at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall.