Main Session Speakers

Mike Pilavachi

Mike Pilavachi is the founder of Soul Survivor, running summer conferences and events to empower young people all over the world. His heart is to reach, disciple, and equip young people to make a difference in their generation, and he has seen many do just that! Author and speaker, Mike is also the Senior Pastor of Soul Survivor Church at Watford in the UK. He loves food, his garden and grape vines, supports Manchester United and spends his spare time with his family and friends.

Dan Nixon

Dan is the Director of Soul Survivor Melbourne, he is also a passionate storyteller with plenty of stories to tell! So far Dan has been a ski instructor, tap dancing teacher, trained as a pilot and written a musical! Random, but true. Dan’s real heart however is as a follower of Jesus and following him through everything else has been his greatest adventure thus far. Dan is married to Hannah and has studied Art and Theology at Tabor Victoria, he also works for Mustard Leadership Australia.

Deb Stanley

Deb has recently moved to the ACT to lead Soul Survivor there, she is also the worship pastor for Soul Survivor NSW & ACT. As a trained Aeronautical Engineer she thinks that youth ministry is definitely rocket science! Deb loves seeing young people passionately worshipping Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit and faith becoming action. Her favourite convo subject is the relationship between worship, justice and evangelism.

Alex Perkin

Alex is 21 and works as the International Coordinator for Soul Survivor UK. He lives in Watford but spends much of his life traveling the world visiting different churches and organisations. He loves coffee, people and talking (preferably all at once!). Alex’s longing is to see young people encounter God so that they might become the people He has created them to be. Alex comes from a family of eight, loves cooking stir-fry and has been an extra in Harry Potter!

Kevin Butterfield

Kevin Butterfield is from the New York City area, but now lives in Lilydale, where he is the lead pastor of Yarra Valley Vineyard Church. He was a youth and young adults pastor for 14 years and has a hunger to see this generation release the love and power of Jesus everyday to the world they live in. He has a fantastic wife, Kerrie and two kids, Noah and Hanna-Kate. Kevin loves movies, drums, motorbikes, basketball and bonsai trees. (“Just don’t say that I’m a Richmond fan.”)

Julia Mills

Julia has been hanging around Soul Survivor since fisherman’s pants and mix tapes were the go. She just loves seeing God at work in the lives of young people in the same way that He has been at work in her. She is newly married to Aaron and together they live in Melbourne’s west. She loves to read… If you see her around you should tell her what to read next!