For Vivid Sydney 2022, I delivered a keynote and moderated a panel discussion with three former cult members as part of Vivid Ideas at the UTS Great Hall. The event sold out, the capacity was raised and an extra allocation of tickets was released, then it sold out again.

“What each participant wanted to convey to the filled auditorium was that anyone, no matter how intelligent, gregarious, creative, strong-willed they are, can fall victim to a cult; that some cults don’t really look like cults, at least, not the popular depiction of cults; and that the persistent engagement of family and friends on the outside can eventually help someone leave a cult. And once someone leaves, they have a chance to rebuild their lives and become successful, as each of the women has.”

Rita Bratovich, City Hub Sydney