Sonja Juillet

Creative producer & cult awareness advocate (online speaker)

Sonja Juillet is a content and event creative producer and long-time cult awareness advocate who uses her voice and personal experience to shed light on coercive control and psychological abuse. Her focus is the struggles faced by the loved ones and family members of cult victims — those often left behind, burdened by shame and isolation while grieving someone who is still alive. She is writing a memoir exploring ‘grey grief’, or ambiguous loss, and collaborates with nonprofits to raise awareness, organise events and support others navigating this often misunderstood form of loss.

24–25 OCT 2026

Limes Room, Christchurch Town Hall
Ōtautahi | Christchurch
Aotearoa | New Zealand

DECULT 2026

What to Expect

  • 50+ local and international speakers in 30+ sessions
  • 12 additional online sessions for North America & Europe
  • Survivor Story Jam (our highlight!)
  • Lunchtime meet-ups, information booths and book signings
  • Fully catered with lunch and morning/afternoon tea
  • Mental health support and calm zones
  • Media room and security guards
  • All sessions are recorded to watch later
  • Post-conference support day for survivors

 

Attendees can look forward to expert panels, survivor-led discussions and contributions from authors, academics, therapists and legal advocates. Have a look at the highlights from our inaugural conference to get inspired!

30+
SESSIONS

50+
SPEAKERS

LIVESTREAMED

Those unable to attend in person can join us online again (at a reduced ticket price). In 2024, more than 250 attendees watched the live stream.

INTERNATIONAL

We are expanding the programme online – round the clock & round the world – with 20+ live sessions on Zoom for time zones in Europe and America.

WORKSHOPS

After the Decult conference, the Olive Leaf Network offers trainings and workshops with US cult expert Rachel Bernstein in Auckland and Wellington.

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