Lula Dembele

Lula Dembele​

Director of Lived Expertise and Advocacy

Lula Dembele is a systems disruptor and passionate advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, childhood, and adult domestic violence. Combining her lived experience and professional skills in strategic and gender policy, Lula has dedicated efforts to working on structural and cultural change to prevent and reduce men’s violence against women and children.

Lula is a Bravehearts Ambassador and Voices for Change Survivor Advocate, director of Accountability Matters Project, and member of the National Plan Advisory Group. In her day job, Lula is Manager – Gender Equity for Women’s Health in the South East.

In 2021, Lula co-founded the Independent Collective of Survivors (ICOS), a national group of survivor advocates pushing for lived experience led social and policy change.

Bringing over a decade working in public policy and advocacy to the WTRC team, Lula has leant her voice and expertise to multiple WTRC campaigns, as well as participating in the co-design research.

The heart of what drives Lula is the belief that everyone should feel and be valued. “Too often systems of power and our relationships tell us we are not good enough, not worthy – this creates disadvantage and insecurity that allows abuse to thrive. We can change that.”