Kate Swaffer (MSc, BPsych, BA, Ret. Nurse) is a civil rights campaigner, poet, author, and researcher. Her research on reparations for harms to people in Australia living in residential care is critical to stopping current harm, preventing future harms, and providing redress for past harm for people in care, and their families. Her personal story of being diagnosed with cognitive disabilities due to a rare form of young onset dementia aged 49 is one of rising above what she was advised was ‘the end’ and overcoming many hurdles to live positively. Kate is also co-founder of Dementia Alliance International.

She campaigns for the human rights of the 57 million people with dementia globally and for recognition of dementia a condition causing disabilities, to ensure access to the CRPD and other Conventions for. She’s worked on many publications with the WHO and UN and has made multiple statements at the Conference of the States Parties at the United Nations in New York, and the World Health Organisation in Geneva, where she is the first person with dementia globally to be an invited keynote speaker. Kate is an Ambassador for the ADC (SA) and for Step Up For Dementia Research in Australia.