Karen Bijkersma (pron. Bickers-mar) is a Melbourne-based researcher, writer and presenter, and the author of two published books, “Best Ever Baby Tips” and “The Book Every Woman Needs to Read: women speak out about gendered domestic violence – 28 stories of survival.”

Karen has a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communications and is an award-winning advertising copywriter. Her expertise in marketing and advertising, along with many years of experience in professional writing and editing for a Consumer Legal Service, forms the background to Karen’s research and advocacy work on human, legal and consumer rights, with a particular focus on women’s issues.

While Karen is currently in the process of completing several non-fiction books on a wide range of topics, during 2025 she has turned her attention to a series of feminist talks and podcasts for Skeptics in Melbourne and Sydney, including “The Heartbreak Industry”, “Catfish, Scammers & Other Online Predators” and “Am I Being Gaslit?”

Karen was also Keynote Speaker at Skepticamp 2025 in Anglesea, Victoria with the topic, “Reading Between the Lies: Applied Rhetorical Patterns in Men’s Dating Profiles”.

Karen will be appearing in person at Skepticon 2025.