This year's speakers will include....

Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales (also Chairing the event).

Nicole is the former Chief Executive Officer of Standing Together Against Domestic Violence; an organisation focused on creating a coordinated community response to domestic abuse in West London. Nicole has worked in domestic violence policy and intervention for over 20 years.

She began her career at the Alabama State Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the United States. In 1999, she came to London as an early worker at ADVANCE, one of the first advocacy (now IDVA service) services in the UK. In 2000, she began working at Standing Together, expanding the coordinated community response efforts into health settings.

After returning to the UK following two years working in the United States at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University, she was part of a small group of individuals and organisations that developed and delivered the nationally accredited IDVA training programme.

Her freelance work has included clients such as the CPS, Refuge and multiple local authorities, individual refuges, outreach and IDVA projects. She worked at Refuge as a Senior Operations Manager before becoming the CEO at Standing Together in 2014.

She was appointed the Domestic Abuse Commissioner in September 2019. She has a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Public Administration.

Dame Vera Baird, Victims' Commissioner.

Appointed on 24 June 2019 for a three-year term, Dame Vera is responsible for championing the interests of crime victims and witnesses and reviewing the operation of the Victims Code of Practice (the Code).

The Commissioner’s role is independent of government, although she was appointed by the Justice Secretary, in consultation with the Home Secretary and Attorney General, through an open recruitment exercise.

As Commissioner, she will meet regularly with ministers, the judiciary, heads of criminal justice agencies, Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners, victim organisations and voluntary groups. She will undertake reviews into victim services and report on how agencies are complying with the Victims’ Code.

In taking up the role, Dame Vera draws upon a wealth of experience combining political, legal and police expertise. She has a lifelong interest in fighting injustice and passionately believes our criminal justice system can only be considered successful if it delivers justice to both victim and offender.

Dame Vera is the former Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria having been elected to the post in 2012, and then re-elected in 2016 with a majority of more than 120,000. She was renowned as a strong voice for the North East, speaking up for Northumbria Police force, partners and communities at a local and national level.

She serves in voluntary roles as an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law at Northumbria University, Visiting Professor of Legal Practice at Newcastle University, Visiting Law Professor at London South Bank University and as an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford and Durham University Law School.

Dame Vera previously served as Labour MP for Redcar from 2001 to 2010. She was a Government Minister from 2006 to 2010 and Solicitor General from 2007 to 2010 - the House of Common's most senior law officer. As Solicitor General she was closely involved in criminal justice policy and legislation and is particularly proud of her role in taking the Equalities Act 2010 through its House of Commons stages.

In 2017 she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to women and equality.

She’s also the only honorary woman member of the Durham Miners’ Association as well as a Patron of charities RESPECT, Operation Encompass and Action After Fatal Domestic Abuse.

Speaking upon appointment of her new role as Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera said: "It’s an honour to have the chance to work with victims and witnesses to ensure that their voices are heard everywhere it matters."

Antonio Castanho, Clinical Psychologist/Psychotherapist (Former Police Officer – 18 years in an Investigations Unit)

Member of the Domestic Homicide Review Team, Portugal. Member at the National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Youth. United Nations Civilian Police Officer in East Timor (2000/2001) – Investigations Unit.

Trainer on risk assessment, management and DHR´s for the Police, Lawyers, Prosecutors and Judges. Guest speaker at several national and international events on issues related to Domestic Violence, Risk Assessment and Domestic Homicide Reviews.

Invited professor at several Universities in Portugal on issues related to Domestic, Sexual, Interpersonal and Trauma treatment.

Author and co-author of the Risk Assessment Tool for Police Forces and Courts in Portugal, several books, studies and articles related to domestic violence, risk assessment and homicide in domestic violence and sexual violence.

Families bereaved by fatal domestic abuse.

Plus, more speakers to be confirmed!

If you're looking to arrive early and stay overnight, please be advised there are a limited number of delegate discounted rooms available at the DoubleTree Hilton. To book, please contact the hotel direct on 01793 881777 and quote AAFDA 18.03.20

Please inform us of any access or dietary requirements by emailing us at conferenceadmin@aafda.org.uk

To give you an idea of what to expect, you can view AAFDA's 2019 Conference here

Any questions? Please contact us at conferenceadmin@aafda.org.uk

AAFDA Annual Conference 2020