Who we are

The I-CEPS is an initiative of the Parenting and Family Research Alliance (PAFRA) who is hosting the Congress. PAFRA aims to transform the parenting research field by enhancing effective collaboration between researchers, program developers, policy makers, service providers and consumers to develop a shared vision: ensuring evidence-based parenting support becomes available to all families, everywhere. To achieve this, PAFRA members have come together to collectively support the advancement of the field of parenting support (science, policy, and practice) for the benefit of all children.

The governance of the I-CEPS is managed by several exceptional core committees with members from different disciplines and organisations within and beyond PAFRA. The International Steering Committee provides high level oversight and guidance to the Organising, Scientific Program, Supporters, Policy, Evaluation Advisory, Communications, and Parent Advisory Committees.

As of 14 March, 2023, the members of the I-CEPS committees are as follows:

Congress convenor: Professor Matthew Sanders (The University of Queensland, Australia)

Treasurer: Mr Warren Cann (Parenting Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia)

Global Ambassadors

International steering committee

The steering Committee provides high level oversight for each other committee, guiding their choices to best reflect the overarching concept of the event.

• Professor Matthew Sanders (Committee Chairperson; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Dr Amit Baumel (University of Haifa, Israel)
• Professor Theresa Betancourt (Boston College, USA)
• Dr Shelina Bhamani (Aga Khan University, Pakistan)
• Professor Mark Dadds (The University of Sydney, Australia)
• Dr Gauri Divan (Sangath, India)
• Professor Joan Durrant (University of Manitoba, Canada)
• Dr Ngozi Enelamah (University of New Hampshire, USA)
• Dr Ilgi Ertem (International Developmental Paediatrics Association, Turkey)
• Dr Jena Hamadani (icddr,b, Bangladesh)
• Professor Sophie Havighurst (University of Melbourne, Australia)
• Professor Nina Heinrichs (Universität Bremen, Germany)
• Professor Suzanne Kerns (University of Colorado, USA)
• Professor Robert McMahon (Simon Fraser University, Canada)
• Dr Ann Miller (Harvard Medical School, USA)
• Professor Pietro Muratori (IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Italy)
• Professor Alvin Lai Oon Ng (Sunway University, Malaysia)
• Professor David Olds (University of Colorado, USA)
• Professor Ronald Prinz (University of South Carolina, USA)
• Professor Marija Raleva (St. Cyril and Methodius University, Macedonia)
• Professor Anna Sarkadi (Uppsala University, Sweden)
• Professor Stephen Scott (King's College London, England)
• Professor Vincent Sezibera (University of Rwanda, Rwanda)
• Dr Hiran Thabrew (University of Auckland, New Zealand)
• Professor Carolyn Webster-Stratton (University of Washington Seattle, USA)

Organising committee

The organising committee is responsible for planning the event, coordinating staff, and managing the progression of necessary tasks and assets to ensure timely execution of objectives.

• Dr Carys Chainey (Committee Co-chairperson; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Ms Caroline Dusabe (Committee Co-chairperson; Save the Children)
• Ms Jessica Dawkins (I-CEPS General Assistant; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Ms Sarah Little (Committee Assistant; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Dr Carolina Gonzalez Urrutia (University of Southern Queensland, Australia)
• Mr Tianyi Ma (The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Dr Sally Richmond (Monash University, Australia)​

Scientific program committee

This scientific program committee is responsible for the development of the Congress program, including the event themes, selected presenters, and presentation guidelines.

• Professor Suzanne Kerns (Committee Co-chairperson; The University of Colorado, USA)
• Associate Professor Karen Turner (Committee Co-chairperson; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Ms Areeba Syed (Committee Assistant; Aga Khan University, Pakistan)
• Japeth Adina (The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Assistant Professor Amit Baumel (University of Haifa, Israel)
• Assistant Professor Shelina Bhamani (Aga Khan University, Pakistan)
• Professor Patricio Cumsille (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile)
• Professor Heather Foran (Universität Klagenfurt, Austria)
• Professor David Hawes (University of Sydney, Australia)
• Adjunct Professor Cynthia Leung (Victoria University, Australia)
• Associate Professor Paul Oburu (Maseno University, Kenya)
• Assistant Professor Justin Parent (Brown University, USA)
• Professor Marija Raleva (St. Cyril and Methodius University, Macedonia)
• Associate Professor Raziye Salari (Uppsala University, Sweden)
• Professor Anna Sarkadi (Uppsala University, Sweden)
• Dr Anja Wittkowski (University of Manchester, UK)

Policy and social impact committee

The policy and social impact committee investigates opportunities for knowledge transfer beyond the Congress. Key aspects of this role include government engagement, and the development of the Supporting Families Pledge and action circle materials.

• Dr Chris Hatherly (Committee Chairperson; Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia)
• Dr April Hoang (Committee Assistant; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Ms Sylvia Lin (Committee Assistant; The University of Melbourne, Australia)
• Ms Juan Zhong (Committee Assistant; The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Adjunct Professor Michael Hogan (Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth/Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership, and Paul Ramsay Foundation Fellow at Queensland University of Technology)
• Dr Frances Doyle (Western Sydney University, Australia)
• Dr Rae Kaspiew (Australian Institute of Family Studies)
• Ms Veronica Westacott (Australian Government Department of Social Services)
• Mr Luke Twyford (Queensland Family & Child Commission, Australia);

Scientific and evaluation advisory group

The scientific and evaluation advisory group will conduct research on, and evaluate congress outcomes, focusing on implementation science and maximizing the impact of the congress on practice and policy.

• Associate Professor Marie Yap (Committee Chairperson; Monash University, Australia)
• Ms Sunita Bayyavarapu (Committee Assistant; Monash University, Australia)
• Professor David Hawes (University of Sydney, Australia)
• Professor Suzanne Kerns (The University of Colorado, USA)
• Professor Winnifred Louis (The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Associate Professor Alina Morawska (The University of Queensland, Australia)
• Professor Ronald Prinz (University of South Carolina, USA)
• Associate Professor Cheri Shapiro (University of South Carolina, USA)

Online Experience Committee 

The online experience committee is responsible for the design and flow of the Congress experience. They work closing with the scientific program committee and digital event coordination team to improve production quality and engagement. 

• Ms Elizabeth Chester (Telethon Kids Institute, Australia) 
• Ms Muskan Khetan (The University of Melbourne, Australia) 
• Mr Jonathan Kruljac (The Kempe Foundation, USA) 
• Mr Matthew Taylor (The University of Queensland, Australia) 
• Professor Mark Dadds (The University of Sydney, Australia) 
• Mr Daniel Seed (The University of Queensland, Australia) 
• Dr Carys Chainey (The University of Queensland, Australia) 
• Mr Matt MacDermott (Life Course Centre, Australia) 
• Professor Daryl Higgins (Australian Catholic University, Australia)

Community engagement and parent advisory group

The community engagement and parent advisory group communicates the priorities of parents, carers, and children to other committees, ensuring that Congress initiatives reflect the values of global communities.

• Professor John Toumbourou (Committee Chairperson; Deakin University, Australia)
• Dr Carolina Gonzalez Urrutia (Committee Assistant; University of Southern Queensland, Australia)

Publications advisory group

The publications advisory group will investigate publication opportunities presented by the Congress, including special issues around evidence-based parenting support topics.

• Professor Nina Heinrichs (Universität Bremen, Germany)
• Associate Professor Alina Morawska (The University of Queensland, Australia)

Communications and Marketing Team

The communications and marketing team coordinates promotional material and outreach efforts across each committee via email and social media.  

Digital event coordination team

The EventsAIR team communicates the capabilities of the OnAIR platform to other committees, handles platform assets, and manages technical assistance enquiries. 

• Ms Hope Simona (Event coordinator; EventsAir)
• Mr Jamie Pear (EventsAir)
• Mr Vivek Varanasi (EventsAir)