Dr Karla Lopez
Director, Child Exploitation Response Team
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing - Victoria
Dr Karla Lopez is a forensic psychologist with 25 years' experience in a range of government and non-government settings with a focus on community safety and child safeguarding. From correctional settings, assessing and treating sexual offenders, to shaping innovative policing approaches that enhance community safety, educating sports executives about child safeguarding to currently leading the CSE response for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, her focus on protecting the most vulnerable is relentless.
Her work in the public service has spanned operational, advisory, and strategic roles, where she has navigated complex systems and challenges, drawing on evidence, technology, and collaboration. She has sought to bring together the right people, knowledge, and tools to achieve lasting impact. In 2025, Dr Lopez was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate evidence-based responses to prevent and respond to child exploitation. She has previously been honoured to receive a fellowship from the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, recognising contributions to sexual abuse prevention, and an award from the Australasian Council of Women and Policing for related work.