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A key aspect to better protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation is to deepen our understanding of the crime, perpetrator tactics and behaviour, and the lived experiences of victim-survivors.
ICMEC Australia is proud to have served as the gold sponsors for the inaugural Child Sexual Abuse Research Reduction Network’s (CSARRN) Workshop held this week in Adelaide. Driven by our mission to facilitate cross-sector collaboration and help build the capacity and capabilities of those within the industry, we are always looking for ways to support our stakeholders to meet their missions and outcomes.
Sponsoring the inaugural CSARRN workshop provided a valuable opportunity for us to demonstrate our unwavering support for critical Australian research to uncover data-driven insights and evidence-based approaches, aimed at enhancing the protection of children from harm.
Established in 2023 by a group of dedicated researchers committed to combating child sexual abuse, CSARRN’s inaugural workshop, hosted by the University of Adelaide, brought together key researchers and thought leaders from global institutions and Australia’s world-leading research teams. The event facilitated the sharing of work, the fostering of new collaborations, and the development of unified solutions to better address child sexual abuse.
Featuring informative sessions delving into the complexities of child sexual abuse and exploitation, the workshop covered various aspects of this heinous crime. As a key subject matter expert, our Head of Data Products, Warren Bulmer, was invited to present his research paper on DarkNet Child Exploitation Forums. Other topics discussed at the workshop included offending behaviours, investigative methods, advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, harmful sexual behaviours, and prevention initiatives.
With our work streams designed to seamlessly support projects and stakeholders collaboratively, this was an important event for our Head of Capacity and Prevention, Dannielle Kelly, and Head of Impact, Tiphanie Au, who represented the organisation at the workshop. In addition to enjoying the meaningful insights from presenters on a diverse range of research topics, it was a unique opportunity for them to network with a collective of like minded people committed to finding solutions to this crime.
We know that we need to work collaboratively to tackle these issues effectively, and our Capacity & Prevention and Impact streams combine to support the academic research that plays such a critical role in enhancing the protection of children. By forming new connections and having the potential for future partnerships with these academics leading their field, we hope that ground-breaking work of the future will emerge from this event to help the enhanced detection and prevention of CSE.
As the sponsor for the inaugural workshop we were delighted to support this worthwhile initiative, and we extend our gratitude to CSARRN for organising such an insightful event. We look forward to building on the relationships made and we are eagerly looking forward to further collaborating in 2024.
With an increase in digital currencies as a method of payment, the rapid advancements in this area since the introduction of the Blockchain in 2008 have increased the complexity of detecting suspicious payments. Understanding how cryptocurrency operates and its differences from traditional banking structures is critical to applying frameworks to detecting and preventing child sexual exploitation transactions.
ICMEC Australia’s November Brown Bag event featured Luke McGoldrick, Sales Director at Chainalysis, who discussed cryptocurrency, its capabilities, and the ways it has the potential to intersect with online child sexual exploitation.
Luke covered the different types of crypto, how they can be used to facilitate child sexual exploitation, and dispelled the idea that digital payments made on the blockchain are completely untraceable.
The most important consideration for the detection and prevention of child sexual exploitation (CSE) is the impact of this crime on the victim-survivors. Not just at the time or times it occurs, but well into the future.
The Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS), released in April 2023, demonstrated the lasting emotional and psychological impacts child sexual abuse can have well into adulthood.
But this is only part of the story.
When a child experiences sexual exploitation, whether physically or online, the effects are wide-ranging and extend into many areas of their lives. Beyond the grievous psycho-social implications that stay with victim-survivors for a lifetime, there are also economic impacts for the child, their families, any future partners and children, and wider society.
By understanding the economic and broader implications of this crime, we can begin to see the true urgency of action needed.
In September we opened applications for Australian academics to submit their interest in conducting new research into the economic consequences and impacts of child sexual exploitation, particularly facilitated online.
With one of the most recent Australian studies into the economic costs of CSE being released in 2016/17, gaining current insight into this issue is well overdue and essential to informing our response as a sector.
We are delighted to announce that Dr Jonah Rimer, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Convenor of Postgraduate Cyber Criminology at The University of Queensland, will lead the research for Phase One of a joint project with ICMEC Australia.
Dr Rimer is one of Australia’s most renowned academics in the child protection space. His skills and experience in researching the impacts of child sexual exploitation will result in an important piece of work that we hope will create greater awareness of the crime and facilitate broader engagement in a collaborative response.
Phase one of this multi-phase project will inform the future phases of the research.
This initial report will see the research team providing an outline of the different cost categories, components and sectors relevant to the financial impacts of CSE, particularly facilitated online.
“I envisage that this report will be helpful to a number of areas within the child protection sector.”-Dannielle Kelly, Head of Capacity and Prevention at ICMEC Australia.
“We aim to use this research for our own prevention purposes, building frameworks to further prevent exploitation, and determining key areas of focus for both awareness and deterrence measures.”
“And we will also look to share the findings with our key partners and stakeholders within the sector. Their work in advocating for the broad ranging and deep impacts of this crime will be boosted by the data and insights provided.”
Whilst the findings from this research will have benefits for many of those holding perceived traditional roles within the child protection space, the ripples of positive impact will also spread to other organisations and professionals who play a key part in detecting, reporting and preventing CSE facilitated online.
“I believe law enforcement, government, NGOs and our partners in academia will be able to use the findings and methods to better articulate future funding needs, where funding will be best placed, and to lobby government and donors for more spending in this area,” adds Dannielle.
“And our banking partners have already shown an interest in the potential for the research to give a quantitative number for the cost of the crime, allowing them to pitch their case for increased staffing and awareness in the financial crime portfolios.”
Partnering with such a respected institution as The University of Queensland on this project ensures the highest academic resources and access to some of the greatest minds in the space, especially Dr Rimer.
“For an important issue like this one, we need to get out of our silos, and partnerships between academia and leading agencies such as ICMEC Australia are crucial. I feel privileged to be working with ICMEC Australia on this research.”-Dr Jonah Rimer, Senior Lecturer in Criminology and Convenor of Postgraduate Cyber Criminology at The University of Queensland
“Analysing the effects and costs of CSE requires holistic, multifaceted thinking and a comprehensive approach. I hope to bring this to the project so that we can come to better understand the costs and impacts of CSE, including for victim-survivors, families, the justice system, relevant professional and private sectors, and broader society,” says Dr Rimer.
It’s an honour for ICMEC Australia to have the support and partnership of both Dr Rimer and The University of Queensland on Phase One of this much-needed research, kicking off an ongoing vital project that will help shape the broader community response to protecting children from harm.
The research is set to commence in January 2024 and will conclude approximately six months later.
We are looking forward to sharing the research findings with our stakeholders and the wider community later in 2024, ahead of planning for the future phases of the project.
By placing the victim-survivor at the centre of our work and finding as many ways as possible to understand the impacts of this serious crime, we can move closer to being able to prevent it in the first place.
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Anna Bowden, the visionary Chief Executive Officer (CEO) steering the helm at ICMEC Australia.
In this exclusive and insightful conversation, Anna unveils the intricate tapestry of her leadership journey, marked by resilience, purpose, and an unyielding commitment to combating the harrowing issue of child sexual exploitation.
At the forefront of ICMEC Australia, a not-for-profit organization driving impactful change, Anna is a beacon of inspiration in the realm of purpose-driven leadership.
As we delve into the interview, Anna candidly shares her experiences navigating challenges unique to a cause often evaded by societal discourse.
From the intricacies of marketing a cause that elicits discomfort to the delicate art of fundraising for a mission that rattles the core, Anna’s narrative unfolds with a poignant blend of personal anecdotes and statistical realities.
The interview not only provides a window into the complexities of addressing child exploitation but also showcases Anna’s commitment to humanizing the message and fostering open dialogue.
Join us on this illuminating journey as Anna Bowden reflects on her leadership philosophy, recounts pivotal moments of resilience, and imparts invaluable wisdom to fellow CEOs seeking purposeful navigation through the turbulent waters of crisis leadership.
Anna Bowden: My name is Anna Bowden and I am the chief executive officer (CEO) of ICMEC Australia, a not-for-profit that empowers governments, companies, and NGOs to increase their ability to detect, report and prosecute child sexual exploitation crimes.
I bring extensive experience in impact investing, philanthropy and impact strategy to my role as CEO, which I use to drive ICMEC Australia’s innovative, outcomes-focused programs. I am a passionate leader driven by my affinity for the vital work of countering child sexual exploitation.
ICMEC Australia is a not-for-profit that collaborates with companies (in particular financial services), governments and charities to detect, support, report, prosecute and prevent child sexual exploitation.
ICMEC Australia advocates for policies, laws, and interventions that better address issues relating to the proliferation of child sexual abuse material, online grooming, and live streaming that have emerged as enormous threats to children.
Founded in 2021 as part of ICMEC’s global community, ICMEC Australia works closely with financial crimes teams, NGOs, corporations, regulators and law enforcement partners to reduce and prevent harm to children.
Anna Bowden: One of the hardest things for our organization is promoting our cause and the work we do. Our mission is to apply data-led approaches to reduce and prevent child sexual abuse facilitated online.
Despite how horrifyingly common child abuse and exploitation is (1 in 4 Australian children are sexually exploited), this is an issue that the vast majority of people still want to avoid hearing or talking about. So how do you market work that people are actively trying to avoid? How do you fundraise for work that rattles people to their core?
We’re still navigating our way through this challenge, but one of the things that has really helped is humanising the message, and matching personal stories with the hard facts and statistics. For me personally, that’s meant being more vocal and outspoken about my experience of abuse as a child.
I like to think it helps people confront the issue if you can say, “this horrible thing happened to me, but I’m ok, I’ve got an amazing family now, and a fantastic career where I get to learn from incredible people and now get to help protect other children from harm.” I think it takes the edge off for people who feel it’s all too big and uncomfortable to talk about.
Anna Bowden: I once took a role that I knew in my gut from day one on the job wasn’t a fit for me. When I was interviewing for the role, it seemed really interesting and challenging.
As soon as I got in the door, I found out what I was really brought on to do there – and it just didn’t sit right. I tried everything I could to see if I could help the organisation, and do the job, but I just couldn’t make it fit.
I’ve always worked in the impact space, and am a firm believer that if you’re not the right person for the role, step away, and let the organisation find that person. So, within two months I was handing in my resignation.
It was an executive role, and I was managing a group of over 30. It had been a detailed recruitment process too, and I felt so guilty for having put the organisation through so much work to bring me in and onboard me, and now I was headed for the door.
There were, of course, also those pesky ego and shame issues. I’d quit my previous job, and now two months later I was unemployed and at home. But it forced me into a period of really deep reflection and research.
I read everything I could on the latest evidence and academic literature about social and environmental impact so I could upskill myself, but also take a much more careful approach to my next role.
I also had two very young children at the time, so I got flexibility to be with them and take stock of what I wanted to do in my career, and how to spend my time. It felt fairly ego-crushing at the time, but in so many ways it led me to where I am today. It was the crisis that I needed to reset and choose a new path.
Anna Bowden: I’m a very strong believer that people are motivated by a ‘why’. I’ve always worked in purpose-driven environments, from corporate responsibility to government social services to charities. So tapping into people’s why has been relatively easier, and very powerful. Resilience comes from reminding people (including myself) of why we’re here.
Right now, I know with full certainty that our work will save children from horrendous harm – it’s easier to be resilient in the face of extensive challenges in this sector, when your team has that front of mind.
For the same reason, that’s the key thing I Iook for when bringing in new team members: are they driven by a purpose? Sometimes, it’s not the particular social cause we’re working on, they might just have a tenacious commitment to help teams be more efficient, or build groundbreaking data products. I’ve seen so many times that the reality is, if they don’t have that drive, this industry will be really challenging for them.
We’re a not for profit – no one takes these roles because they think they’ll make lots of money or have a ‘dial-it-in’ job. This is social impact – it’s complex, messy, hard, and really frustrating at times, so purpose is key.
Anna Bowden: Honestly, I often have moments when my resilience dips right down. I’ve had my fair share of burnouts over the years, and moments of thinking “I’m out – I can’t keep doing this…”
But more and more, I know when I’m approaching those cliff edge moments, and I need to step away for a bit. Often, I’ll hit a wall and I know I need to take a day or two away to recuperate. Because I’m so personally committed to this work, and our mission to protect kids means so much to me, – big setbacks can be emotionally tough.
More generally, I’m a strong believer that action triggers action. You usually can’t think or pep talk yourself into being more resilient. More often than not I find it’s just… take the next step, do the next small thing that’s needed. That slowly builds momentum until you’re up and going again.
Anna Bowden: Exercise is key for me. I have a natural tendency to stress and anxiety, so I’m rigorous about training every morning. If I don’t, I really suffer through the rest of the day, and I’m a less pleasant person to be around!
I’m also a huge list writer and time blocker. So in a crisis, I’ll take a few minutes to write out everything that needs to be done so I can see the pieces, and then take it one tiny chunk at a time – then you can become a little more robotic, and a little less emotional – you’re just working your way through the steps.
Anna Bowden: Honesty and openness. I trust my team entirely, and when I can be, I’m open about the crisis. I’ll absolutely recognise that it’s not fun, and that it’s super frustrating we’re dealing with a particular situation. For better or worse, I wear my heart on my sleeve and prefer to take a more personal approach to crises.
Some of the most amazing moments of team building and bonding that I’ve ever seen have been in response to a crisis.
If everyone on the team continues to feel personally connected to each other, and the work, and you can be open and truthful that “this is uncomfortable, and it sucks, but we’re in it together” – usually the team will come together, and align themselves side by side, to face the battle.
Anna Bowden: I personally don’t believe really hierarchical and cut-throat cultures work. I know other CEOs who feel you need to really push people to perform, and dictate terms to the team. That doesn’t sit well with me.
I think being human and vulnerable is ok. In fact, it can lead to really great performance across the team. My team is fantastic and incredibly competent, but I also still like to get in the weeds and do grunt work alongside them all the time. I like to think it helps foster resilience when there’s less “what would you know about my challenges?” sentiment.
Anna Bowden: I relentlessly add buffer time to every known deadline we have. I’m sure it drives the more procrastination-inclined folks around me nuts!
Like many people, I’m even more rigorous about it now, because I have two young children at home. If a key report or presentation for a stakeholder is due on Friday, I’m getting it done a week before. Because there is always something urgent coming up in our particular line of work.
I also prioritise getting the absolute best talent to work with us. Our team is outstanding. We have leading experts who are known internationally for their work – so when there is a crisis (which is often) – the right minds are in the room to advise us on the path through.
Anna Bowden: One of my best bosses had spent decades working in the navy and military in very senior roles. He would say all the time, “things are never as bad, or as good, as they seem”.
It’s been one of those lessons that has continually proven true for me. When something seems awful, or game-changing-exciting now, I take a minute to temper myself with a little “we’ll see”
A groundbreaking study confronting more uncomfortable truths surrounding child sexual abuse has just been released, titled Identifying and Understanding Child Sexual Offending Behaviour and Attitudes Among Australian Men. The study was produced by UNSW academics in association with the Australian Human Rights Institute and Jesuit Social Services’ child sexual abuse prevention service, Stop It Now! Australia, with Dr Michael Salter as the lead author. It was conducted online and anonymously between December 2022 and January 2023, and offers unprecedented insights into a dark corner of society that demands our attention.
The findings of this study are nothing short of shocking, revealing the disturbing prevalence of undetected child sexual abuse offending among Australian men. Within the study, approximately 1 in 6 men reported having sexual feelings towards children. A startling 6.7% of Australian men also knowingly viewed child sexual abuse material. Perhaps the most startling revelation though, is that 1 in 10 men stated they had sexually offended against a child, with around half of this group reporting that they experienced sexual feelings for children.
These findings are groundbreaking on a global level, and are particularly shocking because they relate to undetected child sexual abuse. The report further demonstrates what we have known anecdotally for years, that child sexual abuse is a crime of epidemic proportions. It exists in every corner of our communities, perpetrated by those we’d least suspect. This research highlights that Australia is not exempt from this heinous crime, and that it is occurring at a scale previously unknown. It’s a sobering indication that more needs to be done, and that preventing this crime must be a top priority.
The research findings indicate that those most likely to perpetrate this crime exhibit similar characteristics. They are more likely to be married with a higher household income over $150,000, they often work with children, they have generally experienced higher rates of childhood abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional), will often engage in increased alcohol and drug use, they have a preference for encrypted online services and will often own and use cryptocurrency, with a number admitting to consuming deviant and violent pornography, whilst tending to deny the harm caused in the sexual abuse of a child.
The study’s conclusions are both stark and urgent, emphasising the critical need for early intervention services and preventative initiatives. The research points to several areas that could inform primary prevention work, including recognising child maltreatment and violence against women as social determinants of child sexual abuse, improving community attitudes and understanding of the signifiant harm of child sexual abuse, addressing unsafe online services and products, building safety into online romance and dating sites, regulating pornography (especially violent and deviant content), and promoting and maintaining child-safe institutions.
This vital piece of work validates many of the victim-survivor stories that we have so often heard, indicating that many perpetrators have cultivated good social standing within the community, underscoring the need more than ever for a collective effort across stakeholders – policymakers, financial institutions, NGOs, law enforcement, the tech industry, and regulators.
ICMEC Australia is committed to a world where children are free from abuse and exploitation, and facilitating cross-industry collaboration is the cornerstone of bringing this mission to life.
The online world is evolving at a rapid pace, and this transformation extends to payment behaviours. Banking is no longer restricted solely to traditional financial institutions. The entire consumer experience is undergoing a shift as our online presence grows, and the need for conventional payment methods diminishes. However, just like any other technological advancement, this evolution opens the door for illicit activity. Our borderless society means that we exist in a connected ecosystem of rapid innovation, but this also exposes vulnerable individuals to various threats in the online world.
One significant development in recent times is the rise of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies – such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple – are digital currencies that use cryptography for security. They operate on a technology known as the blockchain, which is a decentralised and distributed digital ledger that records transactions taking place between computers without a typical central authority like a financial institution. Each translation on the blockchain is secured by cryptographic hashes, and linked to the previous transaction, to create a chain of blocks – hence, the “blockchain”.
The innate characteristics of cryptocurrencies, decentralisation and advanced encryption, a perceived sense of anonymity, automation, and speed that payments can be made, make these payment types attractive to perpetrators of child sexual exploitation facilitated online. This adds yet another layer to the difficulties in detecting and eliminating technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation – especially for financial institutions and law enforcement.
For financial institutions, the rise in prominence of cryptocurrencies poses some significant difficulties. Traditional methods of detection and reporting differ when it comes to the blockchain. The anonymity provided by these digital currencies compounds the necessity for effective strategies for detecting, reporting, and preventing this abhorrent crime.
But, cryptocurrency is not completely anonymous or untraceable. Research is already showing us that this payment form is being used by offenders of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Internet Watch Foundation reported that the number of child sexual abuse websites accepting cryptocurrency as payment for illicit material had more than doubled from 2021 to 2022 – with over 1,000 sites of the 250,000 identified accepting digital payments. And despite perpetrators of child sexual exploitation opting to use Blockchain to elude detection, law enforcement agencies all over the globe are finding ways to locate them. The ‘Welcome to Video’ case is a clear example of this and saw law enforcement in the United States take down a large child abuse site by ‘following the money’, as with any financial crime – except ‘the money’ was on the blockchain.
As a response community, the development of new technologies means that compliance and monitoring mechanisms must be updated to maintain pace with technological developments. We need to consider the integration of blockchain analysis tools, and enhance our understanding of offender behaviour and indicators of suspicious transactions to create a holistic response to this crime. Collaboration between financial institutions, technology experts, and regulatory authorities are crucial to developing an enhanced response to online child sexual exploitation.
There is also a growing need for international cooperation when it comes to regulation and responding to this crime, particularly when considering how cryptocurrencies work. The borderless nature of both technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and the blockchain, enables payments to be made from one country for the abuse of a child in another. Financial institutions play a pivotal role in supporting the efforts to combat this crime. And by maintaining best practice methods and investing in cutting-edge technology to ultimately stay ahead of the offenders of this heinous crime, we can protect more children from harm.
Already, navigating a comprehensive response to child sexual exploitation that prioritises the safety of children above all else is challenging. But with the increase in prominence of cryptocurrencies, the ways that the response community ‘follows the money’ may become increasingly difficult. By keeping up with the changes in this area, and understanding the complexities of this technology, we can better equip ourselves to protect children from abuse and exploitation.
Enhancing our understanding in this area is critical. Luke McGoldrick of Chainalysis will present an informative analysis of the intersection of cryptocurrencies and child sexual exploitation at our upcoming Monthly Brown Bag on Tuesday 28 November at 12:30pm. This is the final Monthly Brown Bag of 2023 and an essential topic for those who are fighting against this crime. To make sure you don’t miss out on this topical discussion, register here.
The ways offenders abuse and harm children online is constantly changing. Those working to combat child sexual abuse and exploitation have reported a significant increase in ‘Sextortion’. This is where offenders manipulate children into producing sexualised content and then use it as a form of blackmail to extort more abuse content or money.
As we navigate the response to child sexual exploitation, understanding the different ways offenders harm children is vital. Sexual extortion is now the number one issue for online child sex crime fighters.
This downloadable resource has been constructed using research and findings from the Australian Federal Police, the eSafety Commissioner, and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.
The Children in the Pictures is a groundbreaking documentary that was released in 2022. With an accompanying podcast that delves even deeper, the film centres on the vital work of victim identification investigators in fighting this crime.
Focusing on the Queensland Police Service’s Taskforce Argos, The Children in the Pictures series is an incredibly important watch, and listen, for us all – whether you work directly in child protection or not.
The sexual exploitation of children is an insidious crime which harms far too many children. It’s historically a topic of conversation that most of society is too confronted by and would rather avoid discussing. In order to shift the dial we have a responsibility to encourage constructive public discourse about this serious crime.
Sexual exploitation and abuse irrevocably harms children. And there is often a misconception that when there is an online aspect to the abuse, it reduces the seriousness of the crime. Each image and video harms a child, and the majority of child sexual abuse material found online involves the physical abuse of a child.
Download this ICMEC Australia resource for a general overview of this crime and key statistics.
Anna Bowden is the chief executive officer (CEO) of ICMEC Australia, a not-for-profit that empowers governments, companies, and NGOs to increase their ability to detect, report and prosecute child sexual exploitation crimes.
I’ve spent almost 20 years working on innovations that straddle social impact and business and investment approaches. I feel very lucky that I’ve worked on some of the most fascinating, and ground-breaking initiatives, with leaders from across the globe.
It totally happened by accident. I wanted to do humanitarian work and international development after university, but I couldn’t afford the costs of my Master’s degree to specialise in it. So I took a job in a private equity office as the sole EA to the entire executive team just to save up money. I couldn’t help but think there was an awful lot of money and expertise floating around in that industry that could be applied to what I actually wanted to do, which was social impact.
So this set me off on a course, and for better or worse, I’ve been doggedly convinced that we can apply new ways of thinking to public-private partnerships and impact. One of my earliest roles was with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) – at the time it was a handful of us sitting around a shared desk in a small co-working space in London trying to figure out how to support institutional investors to better mainstream ESG considerations into their investments (those were the days when people would still ask you what the letters ‘ESG’ stood for).
Responsible investment was really about screening out the negative risks. Then this new idea cropped up called ‘impact investment’. At the time, many people thought it was crazy that you could make money, and proactively support environmental and social impact.
In what feels like a bit of a calling, I’m now the CEO of ICMEC Australia. ICMEC Australia seeks to support better detection, reporting, and prevention of child sexual abuse that is facilitated online. We work to support industry professionals, especially from financial services. As a survivor of this abuse myself, I feel immense purpose being able to apply what I’ve learnt in developing and delivering these corporate ‘shared value’ initiatives to what is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world.
I’m probably not meant to admit this to a publication like this, but it’s… very full.
I’m up early so I can be at the gym by 6am. Then I’ll come home, get cleaned up, and start work by 8am. I run my life from my calendar – I use time-blocking so the calendar will be pretty full with meetings and tasks I need to do. I usually leave the office around 4:30pm, collect the kids from school and daycare, bring them back home and then, I’ll be back at work for a few more hours.
It’s usually a mix of meeting with stakeholders and my executive team, presenting at events and meeting, reviewing reports and documents we’re putting out, reporting to the Board and our funders, and right now – lots of strategy development and ‘agile pivots’ to the rapidly changing online and technology worlds and how that affects children and their safety.
We are a not-for-profit organisation, and the team is just fantastic. We’ve recruited some of the absolute best experts from across the country and internationally – to deliver our impact. But as a not-for-profit, we simply don’t have the same resources as businesses or government, so the team ends up rolling up their sleeves to do whatever needs to get done.
The truth is, I have a long way to go to reach balance. I have 4 and 5 year old daughters and I’m leading a not-for-profit organisation in one of the most complex, challenging and technical areas that exist.
Because of my personal connection to this work, it’s even harder for me to switch off. I still have that little voice in my head that says “but what if just one more email tonight, or one more meeting, will in some way contribute to protecting a child from abuse?”
The way I’d define balance, and what I’m striving for is actually more “presence”. I want to be present with my stakeholders and colleagues when I’m at work, and do the best I can to support them at that time. Equally, I want to be fully present with my children and partner when I’m home. Too often than I’d like to admit, while I’m physically at home, my head is either staring into a laptop, or mentally thinking about that complex problem we’re trying to solve.
What I’m trying now is “micro moments of presence”. I took my 4 year old daughter to lunch this weekend. We were at the cafe for probably no more than 45 minutes – but I left my phone in the car, and I was just entirely with her. It was blissful. All I could think was, “this is the reason I do the work I do. Moments like these are amazing!”
I’m doing the same “micro” attempts at meditation too. As someone with anxiety and a history of trauma, the idea of giving my brain quiet time can honestly be pretty terrifying. But I know all the evidence around how beneficial meditation is – so now I’ve started to tell myself I only have to sit there for 10 minutes, sometimes even less.
One change that I’ve recently started trying to be more diligent at is turning off the laptop and screens at night. I’ve experienced anxiety my whole life, and my panic attacks usually kick in at night, leading to some pretty nasty insomnia. I don’t need to tell you the importance of good quality, and enough sleep.
So I’m trying to be better at switching off from work by 8pm, so I get a little time to “wash my brain” before going to sleep. It’s remarkable what a difference it makes to sleep quality.
Oh gosh – so many. I’ve spent many years being a social researcher and impact consultant, so learning about these things is one of my favourite things to do.
Just a couple of recommendations from this year’s learning;
Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep is excellent, especially for over-workers like myself who have spent years neglecting full sleep (to my detriment)
I love Johann Hari’s books – Lost Connections and Stolen Focus are two favourites
I’m a frequent listener of Rich Roll’s podcast too – he gets all the best speakers on there, and he and his guests are always so open and vulnerable about what they’re going through.
As someone who has spent decades working too hard – burn out – collapse – slowly recuperate – then jump back in and repeat, cycle, you’d think I would have learnt years ago the importance of balance and sustaining yourself.
It’s especially ironic for me, because I know all the literature on this stuff. I’ve read it all, I’ve even delivered strategic plans to dozens of organisations on how they can embed better practices that put human connection, values, and outcomes first.
At the end of the day – I truly think most people, like me – already know what they need to do. But there’s a gap between knowing and doing.
No one can do this for us, we have to draw the line ourselves.
What I’m trying to do now is apply the same discipline I have to things like work and exercise, to other non-work things I care about, like time with family and friends.
It’s a constant battle, but it really is our choice.
The one thing I am absolutely stringent about, is exercise. I train every morning to start my day, and try to burn off my natural tendency for stress and anxiety. Lots of people say to me “I don’t understand how you have energy and time to exercise with all you have on”. My thought is, “how do you have any energy without doing that exercise!?
ICMEC Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners throughout Australia and their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and Elders past and present.
