Our people

FOUNDER & CEO

Donna Lyon is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and incest whose lived experience has shaped her commitment to alternative justice, healing and recovery for survivors. Her own journey through trauma, sobriety, inclusive faith and boxing became the foundation for the creation of Left Write Hook.

An Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, Donna is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a current Snow Foundation Fellow. In 2025, she was nominated for Shaping Australia Community Champion Award.

With a background in arts, filmmaking and education, Donna combined boxing and creative writing to create new pathways for survivors to reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their stories and build community through shared experience.

Alongside founding Left Write Hook, Donna completed a PhD, produced the critically acclaimed feature film Disclosure and the multi award-winning documentary Left Write Hook, co-edited a book of survivor stories, completed two half marathons and two full marathons, hobbled through a 55 km trail run, and fought in five amateur boxing matches, winning one.

HEAD OF OPERATIONS

MARKETING & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER

Ace is a survivor of institutional and spiritual abuse and sexual violence. After participating in the Left Write Hook program twice, they returned to facilitate and now work as Left Write Hook’s Marketing & Engagement Officer.

Drawing on both lived experience and a professional background in events, publishing and business management, Ace is passionate about building community, creating meaningful connections and supporting survivors to access safer pathways to healing and recovery.

PROGRAMS & ADMIN OFFICER

KC is our lived experience Programs & Admin Officer. She is a past program participant who built and sustained beautiful connections with her fellow participants. 

KC believes that consistency, connection and commitment are very important in recovery, and has been able to practice and embody these values, seeing positive results. 

KC is also a freelance digital designer who enjoys spending time with her cats, practicing muay thai and crocheting. 

DONOR & MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

Marla brings extensive experience across business development, partnerships, communications and the for-purpose sector, with a career grounded in building meaningful relationships and creating social impact.

With a background spanning corporate, health and nonprofit sectors, Marla is passionate about connecting people to purpose and helping organisations grow through authenticity, creativity and community.

At Left Write Hook, she is committed to amplifying survivor-led work and supporting the organisation’s mission to help victim-survivors reclaim their bodies, rewrite their stories and release trauma through writing and trauma-informed boxing.

EDUCATION & TRAINING LEAD

Mish is a lived experience survivor and educator who researches complex trauma, bullying, and mental health. She is particularly interested in trauma-informed teaching and building connection and belonging among her students.

As Left Write Hook’s Education & Training Lead, Mish supports survivors to translate their lived experience expertise into strong facilitation skills.

Mish has trained in taekwondo since she was 15 and credits martial arts and boxing as foundational to her recovery. She is passionate about survivor-led, community-based approaches to healing and support.

Our coaches and facilitators bring together lived experience, professional expertise and a deep commitment to trauma-informed practice. Many have participated in Left Write Hook programs themselves and understand first-hand the courage it takes to show up, connect and engage with trauma and recovery in new ways.

All facilitators receive specialised training and ongoing support to help create safer, supportive and empowering spaces for participants. Together, they bring care, compassion and a strong belief in the healing power of community, movement and storytelling.

Dove is a survivor of satanic ritual abuse and was a participant in the Left Write Hook documentary. She has spent years working through repressed memories and learning to live with the impacts of her abuse.

Through her involvement in the film, speaking at multiple Q&A screenings and contributing to the film’s social impact campaign, Dove has become a powerful advocate for survivor voices and trauma-informed systems change.

She is passionate about helping other survivors heal and be heard, particularly in the law enforcement and justice sectors.

Julie lives with her loving partner of 35 years, Eva, and is the adoring guardian of her puppy Frankie.

She is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and also lives with schizophrenia. As a participant of the Left Write Hook documentary, Julie wants to share how important the Left Write Hook program is and how it shaped her life.

She is so saddened that there are so many people that have experienced sexual abuse but wants survivors to know that they are not alone, they are heard and their voices really matter.

Pixie is a survivor of childhood, adolescent and adult sexual abuse and incest. Left Write Hook gave them the community and framework they needed to engage with their trauma and find a new path to healing, and Pixie continues to use the skills learned in Left Write Hook in their daily life as someone living with complex PTSD.

Pixie uses their voice in their graphic memoirs, publishing comics about gendered violence, mental illness and religious trauma under the name Khale McHurst.