Rewriting the Script. Building What’s Next For Survivors

Image Credit : Social Garden

Donna Lyon, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne and the founder and CEO of Left Write Hook, a survivor-led charity combining writing, boxing, and peer support to support recovery from childhood sexual abuse and gendered violence. She is a filmmaker, researcher, and boxer, and the producer of the multi award-winning film Left Write Hook and the award-winning feature film Disclosure. Her work centres lived experience, creative practice, and trauma-informed systems change. In recognition of this work, Donna was made a Snow Entrepreneur in 2025, a fellowship for social change offered annually by the Snow Foundation.

Image Credit : Credit Bernard Wright Photography

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

I’ve had a non-linear career that makes perfect sense in hindsight. I started in filmmaking, moved into producing, and eventually joined the University of Melbourne where I now teach and research in film and television. Alongside that, I carried an intense drive to change the way we talk about childhood sexual abuse - which came out of my lived /living experience as a survivor. That led me to create Left Write Hook; a survivor-led charity using writing, boxing, and community to support recovery. The charity grew quickly, the documentary we created (called Left Write Hook and now on Netflix) reached national audiences, and suddenly I found myself a CEO alongside my academic role. It’s been less of a ladder and more of a long, winding path powered by purpose.

What drives you to do the work that you do?

I’m driven by two things: justice and possibility. Justice, because survivors deserve far better systems and stories than the ones we inherited. Possibility, because I’ve seen what happens when survivors are given space, tools, and community; we rebuild ourselves, and then we rebuild the world around us. That keeps me showing up, even on the tough days.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career?

I’d tell younger me: trust your instincts. Put in the work, remain curious, be open and try to enjoy as things will work out. Back your ideas earlier, and don’t wait for permission. The world needs people who are willing to disrupt the script.

Any words you live by?

“How can we see this through a lens of empowerment?”I can default to fear and uncertainty. Trauma can leave you with a fixed mindset and so for me its about pushing myself to lead and think from a space of empowerment even when it’s uncomfortable.

What are you currently watching / reading / listening to?

Watching: bad reality tv like Glow Makeup as I don't have to think too much

Reading: always something about trauma and recovery.

Listening: podcasts about social change, and occasionally something loud enough to drown out my to-do list - which is increasingly hard.

Image Credit: Left Write Hook documentary behind the scenes