Meet the Team
Dr Joy Townsend
Founder & CEO
Dr Joy Townsend is a Sociologist whose area of expertise is in the field of gender and sexualities. Her work centres on the lived experiences of young Australians. Joy founded Learning Consent to bridge the gap between the research and evidence base for teaching sexuality education effectively, and what was happening in the classroom.
Joy is one of Australia’s leading researchers and educators on sexual consent. Her research portfolio is focussed in the area of critical sexuality studies and includes a number of empirical qualitative studies with young Australians on sensitive and complex topics. Joy completed her doctorate at UNSW in 2019. It was a qualitative research project based on in-depth interviews with Australian young people. The study brings the lived experiences of young people into dialogue with existing theoretical arguments concerning agency.
Joy speaks and writes extensively on complex issues such as sexual consent, pornography, sex education, pleasure and agency.
Learning Consent Collaborators
The Learning Consent team is made up of a wonderful mix of intelligent and generous humans who are passionate about comprehensive sex education and work hard to get it right for young people.
Dr Evvie Smith
Learning Strategist: senior elearn designer
Evvie is a Senior Learning Strategist with a solid track record in tertiary education teaching, and designing and developing custom online learning solutions. As a Sociologist with expertise in gender and sexualities research, Evvie is particularly passionate about promoting innovation, diversity and inclusion in the EdTech space.
Evvie is a PhD graduate who has worked at several higher education institutions and their corporate entities including DeakinCo. and Western Sydney University. Her key strengths are in innovative online teaching pedagogies and curriculum development strategies, particularly in digital learning environments. Evvie takes a hands on approach to conceptualising, designing, building and implementing bespoke digital learning solutions for clients in the corporate, commercial, not-for-profit and higher education spaces through her learning design business Stay True Stay You.
At Learning Consent Evvie leads the design of our online short courses for university students.
Carly McTavish
Impact Evaluation & Communications Lead
Carly is a communications specialist with 15 years of experience leading communications campaigns in the for-purpose sector.
Having worked alongside First Nations communities, people experiencing homelessness or drug and alcohol misuse, and young people in out-of-home care, Carly is passionate about amplifying the voices of those whose stories are rarely told.
Carly heads up the Impact Evaluation component of all that we do at Learning Consent, and ensures our communications are on-point.
Dr Adam Rogan
Sociologist: Men and Masculinities
Dr Adam Rogan is a Sociologist who conducts research and teaching in the areas of gender, sexualities, and the critical study of men and masculinities. Adam is the author of various book chapters and journal articles on the subject of gender and masculinities. His doctorate research examined the relationship between risky drinking, public violence and the construction of legitimate masculine identities. Adam is an experienced academic researcher and has previously held positions at University of New South Wales and University of Wollongong.
Rose Maher
Theatre Director & Curriculum Design
Rose Maher is a professional actor, theatre maker and clown. Rose graduated with Honours in Creative Arts (Theatre & Performance) and continued her education as an actor and educator with the Shakespeare & Company (Massachuttes), specialising in voice and play, and Ecole' Philippe Gaulier (France) specialising in clown.
While working in children's theatre and as a professional actor Rose also practices as a Clown Doctor with the Humour Foundation. In this work Rose practices holistic healthcare engaging hospitalised children and their families in play and laughter.
Rose directs the teams of professional actors who are engaged to bring Learning Consent’s work to life on screen and stage, both for online learning and face-to-face workshops. Rose uses 'play' as a methodology in her work with Learning Consent to activate the learning space for students, educators and parents alike for embodied learning.
‘I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. And singing. Especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.’ Mary Oliver
Tim Rowe
Clinical Psychologist & Lead Facilitator
Tim is a clinical psychologist and school counsellor and has been working with young people since he was a youngish person himself. Tim has worked in hospitals, mental health clinics, residential care facilities, drug and alcohol rehab centres, and more recently, in schools. Tim loves the journey of discovering the stories that each young person has and he relishes the opportunity to uncover more of their stories – particularly those that are enriching and liberating for their lives.
Tim has undertaken extensive training in psychology and youth work and is proud to have amassed a large HECS debt in the process, which he is paying off with unbridled enthusiasm. He is passionate about helping young people navigate the oftentimes complex web of realities they face on a daily basis and draws most of his inspiration in life from those he is fortunate enough to work with.
Jemma Gallagher
Intern: Writer and speaker
Jemma is 21 and currently in her fourth year studying Occupational Therapy. She is passionate about young people’s access to comprehensive sex and consent education and regularly contributes engaging pieces for the Learning Consent blog.
Sam Roberts
Lead Facilitator
Sam Roberts is a social worker, workshop facilitator and creative artist. His work focuses on identifying strengths and enabling self-determination.
Sam brings over 15 years of experience working with resilient young people to his role as a facilitator with Learning Consent. Sam's practice model draws on Trauma-Informed Care, Recovery-Oriented Psychological Support, Feminist theory, Play Therapy and Dignity Therapy.
Sam works for NSW Health providing meaningful and practical support to young people and families experiencing severe trauma and disadvantage. He also supervises and tutors Social Work students at the University of Wollongong, and on placement in the field.
Sam is also a singer-songwriter, guitarist and drummer, with a Grad Cert in Music (Composition).
Steph Lentz
Education Consultant
Steph is a writer, an experienced secondary school teacher and a former advertising strategist. She has worked in public and independent schools in NSW, as well as in the Northern Territory. In 2023, Steph made her debut as a published author when her memoir, In/Out, was published by HarperCollins. She has a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and a Master of Teaching.
At Learning Consent, Steph assists with curriculum design and contributes pedagogical expertise to the presentation of training workshops for teachers preparing to deliver comprehensive relationships and sex education.
Lucy Cutts
Education Consultant
Lucy Cutts is a primary school teacher with Masters Degree in Applied Positive Psychology. She has over 10 years experience working in schools within Australia and internationally. In her role as an educator and school leader, Lucy strives to create a difference in the lives of others and help them become their best possible selves. Through the power of conversation, Lucy specialises in building positive and respectful relationships with the children she teaches, their parents and carers and everybody she meets. Lucy is currently writing a series of books designed to help parents have uncomfortable but necessary conversations with their children about topics such as consent, puberty and body image.
Sandra Betts
Strategic Advisor
Sandra Betts is a specialist in Business Strategy and Change Management Consulting, transforming business performance, through step changing people & organisation capability. Through her successful consulting practice, The Human Difference, Sandra operates as a strategic business partner to world class businesses and brands, leading major strategic and organisational change, in Australia and internationally.
With a reputation for delivering transformational outcomes, a highly committed and differentiated approach and uncompromising standards, she has built deep, long term relationships, as a trusted confidante and advisor to CEO’s and senior business leaders of leading client organisations, across multiple sectors and geographies. Her expertise spans business strategy and change management consulting, executive coaching, Board & Leadership Team facilitation, HR & talent strategy and Executive Search.
Sandra’s wisdom and guidance is fundamental for the realisation of Learning Consent’s vision, ensuring sustainable growth in alignment with our core values.
Amoni Liddell
Design Lead: web designer
Amoni is a web designer, creating websites and digital experiences for a wide range of brands in varied industries including local government, tourism, financial services and not for profits. With a background in fine art photography, she uses graphic design with current trends in technology to deliver accessible, aesthetic and unique web-based experiences for Learning Consent.
Maddison Klar
Executive Assistant
Maddison is a student at UNSW, and is part-way through a double degree of Law and Bioinformatic Engineering. She is passionate about about finding ways to challenge the social systems that normalise and excuse sexual violence, particularly through changing the way we teach young people about consent, sex, and pleasure. At Learning Consent, Maddison provides administrative support to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Maddy Stratten
Social media content creation & community engagement
Maddy coordinates Learning Consent’s social media presence. She has a passion for communicating sexual and reproductive health, consent and relationships content in an accessible way in the digital space. Maddy has a background in international public health, health promotion and social marketing. She lives on the coast on Dharawal Country, Maddy loves taking her 30kg Groodle dog Dora to the beach and spending the weekends drinking cups of tea with her sisters. You can check out the other accounts Maddy is currently managing here: the Caddyshack Project, the International Student Health Hub and Social Work Media podcasts.
Learning Consent Advisors
These people generously donate their time and expertise to support the work of Learning Consent.
Dr Catriona Wallace
Dr Catriona Wallace is a mother of four boys, one girl and a grandmother of two. Catriona has a PhD in Organizational Behaviour and is an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Graduate School of Management, UNSW. Catriona has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as the Most Influential Woman in Business & Entrepreneurship. She is the Executive Chair of Boab AI - Artesian Capital's AI Accelerator. Catriona is also the Founder & CEO of Ethical AI Advisory and was the Founder of Artificial Intelligence ASX Listed company Flamingo AI. Catriona has dedicated much of her career to the betterment and advancement of women and girls.
Dr Arne Rubinstein
Dr Arne Rubinstein is an expert on Rites of Passage and adolescent development, with 30 years experience as a medical doctor, counsellor, mentor, speaker and workshop facilitator.
Arne is the CEO of The Rites of Passage Institute. The programs he’s helped to develop have been attended by over 100,000 people globally and are designed to support boys and girls to successfully make a safe, healthy transition to adulthood.
Chanel Contos
Chanel Contos is a gender and sexualities activist and educator. Chanel launched a social media campaign that shared the testimonies of thousands of victims of sexual assault and a petition that calls for more holistic sexuality education earlier in the curriculum. Visit www.teachusconsent.com to learn more about this historically significant campaign. Chanel is currently completing her MA in education, gender and international development at University College London.
Hunter Johnson
Hunter Johnson is the Founder & CEO of two purpose-driven organisations. Hunter leads The Man Cave, an emotional intelligence charity that has impacted the lives of 20,000 young men across Australia. Hunter also leads STUFF™, an investor-backed, purpose-driven personal care brand for the next generation of men. Alongside his work in the masculinity space, Hunter is an Advisor to The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust (QCT), a charity championing young people throughout the Commonwealth alongside Prince Harry, the President of QCT.
From the Blog.
