On 4 July 2023, the Centre for Gender and Violence Research at the University of Bristol UK hosted an event to celebrate the work of Professor Marianne Hester OBE FAcSS, who retires from Bristol in August.  Professor Hester is a leading researcher of gender-based violence in the UK and internationally, whose work focuses on tackling domestic and sexual violence.

Marianne originally joined in 1994 what was then called the Domestic Violence Research Group (DVRG). She left for a period from 1999 and then returned in 2003, expanding the DVRG into the Violence Against Women Research Group and bringing colleagues and Phd students with her from University of Sunderland.  In October 2009, she oversaw the creation of the Centre for Gender and Violence.

The celebration event, held in the Great Hall of the Wills Memorial Building, saw former and current PhD students and colleagues from across academia and the third sector recognise and reminisce about the influence of Professor Hester’s work and the wider impacts on three areas: justice; perpetrators; and children and domestic abuse.  Marianne closed proceedings by delivering an Emerita lecture, reflecting on her early influences and career to date.

Of course retirement does not mean Marianne will stop all her work at Bristol. As Emeritus, Marianne will continue as Editor-in Chief of the very successful Journal of Gender-Based Violence, and is leading new research on the implementation of DRIVE (a programme for high harm perpetrators).

Marianne Hester said,

‘It was heartwarming and very wonderful to see previous students, colleagues and practitioners I’ve worked with over the years, and to hear about the ways they have developed their own work as well as the many positive ripples that our work in the Centre has created. The event clearly highlighted that we have helped to create new generations of excellent scholars and activist who will continue the important work of countering and tackling gender based violence.’