Conference Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Daniele Durante
Affiliation:
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Speech Title:
On the Utility of Transgender Studies as Critical History
Daniele Durante is a Postdoctoral Researcher and a grantee of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy, and visiting researcher at Kanagawa University, Japan. He has completed his studies at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, where he has obtained a PhD in Japanese Studies. He specialises in cultural, gender, emotional and sexual history of premodern, modern and contemporary Japan as well as in classical, premodern and modern Japanese literature. He is interested in reconstructing the discourses around and the life histories of same-sex loving, cross-dressing and gender-nonconforming persons. He is also a literary translator specialised in Japanese-Italian and Japanese-English translation. As part of his Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship project, he is working on a history of female cross-dressing and cross-gendering in early modern and modern Japan.
Dr. Peggy Ann Bloomer
Affiliation:
Central Connecticut State University, USA
Speech Title:
Making Room: Gender, Knowledge, and the Ethics of Who Gets Heard
Peggy Ann Bloomer is an Assistant Professor of Graphic/Information Design at Central Connecticut State University, with a Ph.D. in Media and Communications and a background in English literature, she brings the humanities into conversation with design, visual culture, and emerging technologies. Her scholarship and creative practice explore how images, stories, and systems of knowledge shape what we notice, remember, and value. Her work includes research on artificial intelligence in design education, community-engaged public history, photography, and archival practice. A designer and educator, she connects teaching with creative inquiry and public engagement, with particular attention to whose experiences become visible and whose knowledge finds a place in our shared conversations.
Dr. Robert O’Mochain
Affiliation:
Ritsumeikan University, College of International Relations, Kyoto
Speech Title:
Gender Relations in Japan: A Time for Cautious Optimism?
Robert O’Mochain is a Professor at the College of International Relations in Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. He has been teaching and researching in Japan since 1998. His 2005 doctoral dissertation was on masculinism in educational contexts in Japan. In recent years, his publications have focused mainly on issues surrounding sexual minority identities, sexual violence and the #MeToo movement. His current research focuses mainly on extremist forms of masculinity and the threats these pose to all members of society, especially women and girls in Japan. In 2023, with Yuki Ueno, he co-authored the Routledge publication: “Sexual abuse and education in Japan: In the international shadows.”
Dr. Geraldine Boyle
Affiliation:
The Open University, UK
Speech Title:
Are we taking account of culture and gender when assessing and supporting South Asian young adult carers in England?
Dr. Geraldine Boyle (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Health at The Open University.
Her current research investigates the lives, aspirations and outcomes of young/young adult carers and related health, social care and educational provision and policy. Her research interests include the social reproduction of caring; social inequalities and caring; policy analysis in health & social care and research ethics.
Meet the Past Speakers
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.
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.
Dr. Christina Hicks-Goldston
Dr. Tayechalem Moges
Dr. Michele Ryan
Alexandra Kafka
Mariana Machado Berno
Dr Natasha Katuta Mwila
Rafia Arshad
Eleni Gelasi
Niyati Ravi
Karissa Maust
Dr. Ndamulelo Mabidi
Felitciana Zsha’ Mirzze
Dhaani Singhal
Titis Anindyajati
Mrs. Nadia Elize Van Der Walt
Mitila Suwana-adth
Dr. Heydar A. Aslanov
Rippy Das
Dr. Chafiaa Djouadi
Dr. Angela Kahil
