News & Events
March 2024
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe attends the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation and the Bulan Institute round table on state approaches toward individuals suspected of terrorist affiliation and their families in prisons and camps in Northeast Syria.
December 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was able to share her knowledge and experience with the Georgian Special Penitentiary Services about the importance of rule of law and prisons in the prevention and countering of violent extremism and the rehabilitation and reintegration of convicted terrorist offenders.
November 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe joins the Advisory Board for GCSD.
Our Team - Georgian Center for Strategy and Development (gcsd.org.ge)
15 November 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe Spoke to Jaynie Seal from Sky News about safety and protection for children from violent extremism, vicarious trauma and available support. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peta-lowe-nsw-jp-107796132/recent-activity/all/
October 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe Spoke attended the Children's Rights in Action: Youth Justice Innovations webinar hosted by the Australian Human Rights Committee.
October 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe engaged with representatives of the EU’s CT-related institutions, NATO and the Flemish Peace Institute.
In addition to exchanges on the respective practical and operational approaches to Counter-Terrorism and Countering and Preventing Violent Extremism, events in Israel and the recent attack on Swedish football fans in Brussels were at the centre of the discussions.
15-20 October 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe joined the Australian delegation for the 2023 KAS-ASPI Europe-Australia CT Dialouge Programme. A week full of fascinating exchanges regarding Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism detection, prevention and responses across Germany and Belgium.
July 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke to Dr John Coyne, on the Australian Strategic Policy Institute podcast discussing terrorist prisoners and the controversial tools used to assess their risk of reoffending. To listen to the full podcast; https://www.aspi.org.au/news/pgm-ross-babbage-deterrence-and-defence-strategy-jailed-terrorists-and-risk-reoffending
August 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe obtained a new certification: Accredited Social Worker from Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
July 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe represented IOM PVE Iraq this week in Erbil at the USIP workshop on the RISE Framework for rehabilitation and reintegration. Peta moderated the panel discussion on social and psychological challenges and linkages in rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation in Muslim Majority Country Symposium hosted by IOM in Erbil.
June 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe attended the PREPARE Final Conference and meet with other practitioners who are working with children exposed to violent extremism and in the process of repatriation and reintegration in Brussels.
21 May 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was interviewed by John Smith Thang on Global Digest Medias’ Podcast ‘New World Society for Liberal Democracy’. A discussion on children’s rights, children and young people in a counter terrorism context & countering violent extremism. To view the full interview; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I05hKZOietc
May 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe is proud to have collaborated with UNODC and Kenya’s Directorate of Children’s Services on this important work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj0o_BQFKb8
17 May 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke with Tom Ravlic FIPA regarding the nuance behind the recent headlines about risk assessment in the violent extremism space. To listen to the full discussion; https://shows.acast.com/5ea80440932ead91592be011/episodes/64647674ce94eb0011a2db06?
April 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe travelled to Iraq to work with the government there to repatriate 10’s of thousands of Iraqi’s from camps in NES.
31 March 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe Spoke with podcaster Phil Gurski for the Borealis Canadian Intelligence podcast. A discussion about how inaccurate and woke terminology makes counter terrorism harder. To Listen to more; https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/what-in-heavens-name-is-christian-extremism/
16 March 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe joined a distinguished panel to discuss the importance of a multi-agency approach against terrorism with Counter Terrorism Policing Kenya.
February 2023
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe attended the Lowy Institute as a panelist for the launch of Rodger Shanahans’ new book “Islamic State in Australia”. An important read for anyone in the CT/CVE space, and a thoroughly enjoyable panel discussion.
17 November 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe delivered VERA-2R training to Georgian representatives at the request of GCSD. For more information; https://www.gcsd.org.ge/en/siakhle/treningi-vera-2r-dzaladobrivi-ekstremizmis-riskebis-shefasebis-instrumentis-shesakheb
8 November 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was involved in such an important project. Mental wellness of Police and those at the frontline is imperative in strengthening their wellbeing and the effectiveness of P/CVE and other important challenges. https://twitter.com/SOWEDKe/status/1589840199097667584?t=zSqDOIfs6qA-ZdFRCALsVA&s=40
1-3 November 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was invited to represent Phronesis Consulting and Training and Participate in MHPSS in peacebuilding co-creation workshop and stakeholder workshop in Kenya.
31 October 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was interview by Cat Woods for the Law Society Journal in relation to repatriated from syria and welcomed home? Read the full article; https://lsj.com.au/articles/repatriated-from-syria-and-welcomed-home/
28 October 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe joins the panel on 'The Drum' ABC to discuss that the government has started repatriating Australian women and children from a Syrian detention camp, with the first group en route to Sydney – what supports do they need when they return? Listen to the full discussion; https://twitter.com/abcthedrum/status/1585835257848246277?s=56&t=I7NTrPv4Gls7SpH8VvLJ1A
26-27 October 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe travelled to London, to present on intervening with radicalized young people at the IIJ Roundtable to Address Vulnerabilities to REMVE/ERWT Radicalization. An important discussion and time to hear from others around the world on approaches to addressing this issue for young people. https://twitter.com/iijmalta/status/1585634276644573189?s=56&t=yEZHMLQjcrg5izqwAxdDOw
25 August 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was interviewed by Lucy Gray from Breaking Politics, about the challenges of online recruitment and children and young people and some of my thoughts of the important responses we need to protect our children and young people from this type of harm. Listen to the full Interview; https://omny.fm/shows/breaking-politics/breaking-poli-ad2d6b9e-ea62-416e-8520-1878658d2b7a
July 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe travelled to Kenya to work with the Directorate of Childrens Services while this important piece of legislation is enacted. Kenya’s Children’s Act 2022 enshrines the right of children to grow up free from exposure to radicalisation.
22 June 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe and Stacey Stafford co-authored the Manual for managing rehabilitation of ex-terrorists and it was launched at Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. https://thecommonwealth.org/news/manual-managing-rehabilitation-ex-terrorists-launches-commonwealth-heads
22-23 June 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe presented a practitioner perspective at the Public Hearing for the Independent National Security Legislation Monitors review into Division 105A of the Criminal Code (cth).
May 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe discussed with Mariam Tokhadze, Director of Georgian Centre for Strategy and Development about the Repatriation, Rehabilitation and Resocialisation of families of foreign fighters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9oh3qOHwpM
April 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe participated in a Expert briefing held by CTRG Working Group by Robert Orell to analyze the involvement of Children in RWE. Participants discussed prevention, the role of families and the importance of gender considerations is PCVE efforts, shared insights and formulated recommendations.
February 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe travelled to Kenya, Africa for three weeks to consult with UNODC and Directorate of Childrens’ Services on designing and implementing a training curriculum and manual for Childrens’ Officers on P/CVE.
January 2022
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe lead, designed and implemented the Youth-Specific Framework for assessing, managing and rehabilitating radicalized youth offenders. From designing and recruiting the team, to all the work with D. Elaine Pressman, PhD to integrate the use of the VERA-2R assessment tool with young offenders, the various legal and policy consultations and precedents, the incredible cross-agency and multidisciplinary collaboration and most importantly the work directly with vulnerable and radicalized young people, it remains the biggest and most rewarding learning experience of my life, and one which remains my passion and now responsibility to share. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.773545/full?=&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Psychiatry&id=773545&s=09
November 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe presented for the IIJ in Niger on the rehabilitation and reintegration of children in terrorism cases.
August 2021
Phronesis Consulting and Training are proud and excited to announce that it is now an Institutional member of the Working Group on Children Recruited by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups (CRTG Working Group).
June 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke to ABC Radio Melbourne about the importance of language and messaging when reporting on and talking about terrorism and violent extremism after the Victorian Coroner released findings that the Bourke Street attack was inspired by the Islamic State. What we say,a nd how we say it matters. To listen to the full interview, please follow the link https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/
May 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe participated in the Legalwise Seminar. The Seminar focused on the important conversations about terrorism and the rule of law in our courts and justice systems. To find out more information, please follow the link https://legalwiseseminars.com.au/course/?eventtemplate=1759-terrorism-offences-the-current-issues&event=7023
April 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke with Canadian Intelligence Eh Podcaster, Phil Gurski about terrorists in prison, young offenders, and what can we do? To listen to the podcast please follow the link https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/podcast-85-peta-lowe-young-offenders/
6-7 April 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe received a Certificate in Recognition for the invaluable contribution to the IIJ (International Institute of Justice and the Rule of Law) Juvenile Justice initiative: Second Ethiopia Online Workshop on Justice for Children in Terrorism cases.
31 March 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe contributed a thought-provoking and insightful chapter in the 2021 ASPI Counter-Terrorism Yearbook. To read the full yearbook, please follow the link https://www.aspi.org.au/report/counterterrorism-yearbook-2021
7-12 March 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe participated as a Panelist at the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to discuss the Rule of Law and Juvenile Justice principles for children in a Counter-Terrorism context, raising awareness of issues relating to Violence Against Children recruited by terrorist and violent extremist groups: The Cycle of Victimisation in Kyoto, Japan. To find out more information please follow the link http://www.un-congress.org/Session/View/da91f2fd-5728-49e1-b8d3-d145e969c945
12-27 January 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe participated as a practitioner in the 1st International Symposium on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. A collaboration of perspectives and research to further P/CVE in the region.
January 2021
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe co-authored the Whitepaper: How a Full-Spectrum approach will address critical gaps in countering and preventing extremist and terrorist threats. Peta worked alongside 1st NAEF (1st Allied Expeditionary Force), to highlight concerns and propose a way forward. To read the full article, please follow the link https://1naef.org/media
9-11 December 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe participated in the discussion for IIJ's (International Institute for Justice) Justice Initiative: First Ethiopia Online workshop on Justice for Children in Terrorism cases. To find out more information about the initiative please follow the link https://theiij.org/events/iij-juvenile-justice-initiative-first-ethiopia-online-workshopon-justice-for-children-in-terrorism-cases/
9 December 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke with ASPI's (Australian Strategic Policy Insitute) Leanne Close, IEP's (Institute for Economics and Peace) Steve Killelea, Commander Sandra Booth and Dr Julian Droogan about the key findings in the Global Terrorism Index 2020. To find out more information about the discussion please follow the link https://app.livestorm.co/aspi/aspi-webinar-launch-global-terrorism-index-2020
29 September 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe was invited by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Presidential Committee on Correctional Service Reforms and Decongestion in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to speak with Judges, Attorney-General's, Justice and Detention Officials in Nigeria about good practice for reintegrating juvenile terrorism offenders.
September 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe assisted the International Insitute for Justice and the Rule of Law, Malta, delivering training and workshops to International participants on rehabilitation and reintegration of juveniles engaged in violent extremism.
9-23 September 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke with Anne Speckhard, Director of ICSVE (International Centre for the study of Violent Extremism) to discuss Violent Extremism, Terrorism Prevention and Rehabilitation with juveniles. To listen to the full discussion please follow the link https://www.icsve.org/terrorism-prevention-intervention-and-rehabilitation-with-juveniles/
June 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe has been appointed as a Specialist Consultant for the Countering Violent Extremism Unit, The Commonwealth Secretariat.
12 June 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe will be presenting on the Legalwise Terrorism Offences Seminar in Sydney. Peta has been invited to present on assessment considerations for juvenile terrorism offenders in court. For more information about the seminar please follow the link https://legalwiseseminars.com.au/
March 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe participated and attended the launch of the ASPI Counterterrorism Yearbook 2020. The ASPI Counterterrorism Yearbook 2020 includes a chapter authored by our Principal Consultant Peta Lowe on Young people and Violent Extremism. To Listen to the launch podcast of the ASPI Counterterrorism Yearbook 2020 featuring Peta, follow the link https://www.aspi.org.au/news/counterterrorism-yearbook-2020-audio
19-21 February 2020
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe presented on the Clariden Global 3rd Safety, Security, Counter-Terrorism and Counter Drones Forum "Uncovering Latest Threats and Devising Countermeasures to Improve Safety and Security" at the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park. Peta was invited to present on the latest ISIS and Jihad recruitment and radicalisation trends, particularly as they apply to young people and important lessons about the spread of extremism through deliberate and non-deliberate forces. For more information about the conference please follow the link http://claridenglobal.com/conference/counterterrorism-au/
19 November 2019
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke with Step Together to talk about how we can all help in preventing the path to extremism. Peta's interview was recorded in the Step Together online blog. To read the full interview please follow the link https://steptogether.com.au/blog/preventing-the-path-to-extremism/
8-9 November 2019
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe presented at the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration conference, Justice for Young People: Identifying challenges and finding solutions for youth and children’s justice in Australia and New Zealand, in Melbourne. Peta presented on Young People and Violent Extremism, a session moderated by Ms Mel Walker, Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, Victoria. During this session Peta spoke about the factors which can influence young people to adopt or accept violent extremist beliefs and the risk factors associated with young people engaging in violent extremist behaviours, including legal implications within the Australian criminal justice context. For more information about the conference please follow the link http://www.justiceforyoungpeople.com.au/.
8 October 2019
Phronesis Principal Consultant Peta Lowe spoke with ABC Radio National Law Report host Damien Carrick about the factors which contributed to successful disengagement of juvenile violent extremists. For the full interview please follow the link https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/de-radicalising-young-terrorists-and-speech-pathology-in-cjs/11578642