Back ground of Forum Australia:
Forum Australia (Aussie Forum Inc) was established in 2005. It is a Canberra based registered organisation, which periodically holds open forums and debates on issues that concern all Australians. The organisation believes in “Having your say”, with a view to help improve in decision making at a National level.
Past and upcoming forums are listed below:
- Intergenerational Care
- Islamophobia – Myth or Reality
- First Australians: Raising Our Understanding
- Adapting to Marriage Equality
- Domestic Violence: Causes & Cures
- Refugees: Whose Rights? Who’s Right?
- Australian International Aid: Accountability & Transparency
- Mixed Up! Intergenerational Views on Living Across Cultures
- De-stressing the boiling point
- Fundraising Dinner for Canberra Hospital Paedriatrics
- Interfaith Harmony: Where are we?
- Renewable Energy Future of Canberra
- Australia Under New Management
- Women in today’s Society
- Afghanistan: The Way Ahead
- The Heat is On: Carbon Tax – A local perspective
- Nurturing the dream: owning a home
- Education reform: The way ahead: Higher Education in Australia
- To be or not to be Nuclear
- Gen Y: Why not?
- Unity in diversity
- Who to trust in Australian politics
- One world one dream: Living in Harmony
- Skills shortage in Australia
- Canberra in 2020
- Pakistan: The way ahead
- Millenniem Development Goals: Are we on track?
- Australia a republic?
The speakers and Masters of Ceremonies at these forums include:
- Lish Fejer, Presenter, ABC Radio, Canberra
- Barnie van Wyk, CEO, St Vincent DePaul Society ACT/ Goulburn
- Senator David Smith, Federal Senator for the Australian Capital Territory (Labor)
- Adj Prof Kylie Ward, CEO, Australian College of Nursing (ACN)
- Nic Manikis, Former Senior Executive ACT Government
President, Fair Canberra - Harry Oppermann, Active member of the Canberra interfaith community, Former Deputy Chair, Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF)
- Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM, MP, Member for Eden-Monaro, New South Wales
- Helen Wachirs, President and Human Rights Commissioner, ACT Human Rights Commission
- Brice Hamack, President, The Islamophobia Register of Australia
- Violet Sheridan, Ngunnawal Elder
- Jolene Laverty, Media Professional
- Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
- Julie Tongs, CEO, Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
- Jack Waterford, Former Editor-at-Large, Canberra Times
- Joshua Gilbert, Senior Consultant, Indigenous Consulting, PwC
- Jessa Rogers, Assistant Professor in Education, University of Canberra
- Veronica Wensing, ACT Greens
- The Ven. Dr Wayne Brighton, Public Issues Commission, Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn
- Asmi Wood, Senior Lecturer, ANU College of Law
- Chris Steel, Member for Murrumbidgee, ACT Legislative Assembly
- Siobhan Heanue, Reporter, Presenter, ABC Television, Radio and Online
- Martin Fisk, CEO, Menslink Canberra
- David Matthews, Interim Coordinator-General for Family Safety, Justice and Community Safety Directorate, ACT Government
- Mary Pekin, CEO, Relationships Australia Inc.
- Dr Tahmina Rashid, Associate Professor International Studies,
- Faculty of Arts & Design, University of Canberra
- Amne Alrifai, Community Worker, Blogger at Unveiled Thought, Human Rights Supporter
- Dr Helen Watchirs, President and Human Rights Commissioner, ACT Human Rights Commission
- Yvette Berry MLA, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Youth Affairs, ACT Labor Party
- Giulia Jones MLA, Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Shadow Minister for Mental Health, ACT Liberal Party
- Veronica Wensing, Candidate for Yerrabi, ACT Greens
- Kathryn Elliott, Director, Health Program and Performance Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Emily Wilson, International Policy Manager, Australian Red Cross, ACT
- Professor William Maley, The Asia Pacific College of Diplomacy, Australian National University
- Sam Zappia, Manager, Country Programs Team, Care Australia, ACT
- Elliott Dunn, ABC 666 Radio – Master of Ceremonies
- Kanti Jinna, Advisor, Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
- Samreen Syed, Law Student, Australian National University
- Andrea Ho, 666 ABC Radio & Online Manager, ACT, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Jeevan Nadanakumar, Student, Australian National University, Member volunteer youth broadcaster, FM91.1 Community Radio
- Rolf Bachmann, CYSFP Case Management Team Leader, Southside Community Services
- Professor John Powers – ANU
- Mary Pekin – CEO, Relationships Australia, ACT and Region
- Dr John Martin – Psychologist
- Her Excellency Rima Alaadeen, Ambassador, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- Reverend Nikolai Blaskow,
Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn - Diana Abdel-Rahman, President Australian Muslim Voice and
Chair, Canberra Multicultural Community Forum - Dean Sahu Khan,
Chair, Canberra Interfaith Forum - Message from Harry Oppermann, Jewish Representative, Canberra Interfaith Forum
- Kanti Jinna – Hindu Representative
- Amne Alrifai – Muslim Youth Representative
- John Grimes, CEO, Australian Solar Council
- Dr Igor Skryabin, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Australian National University
- Julian Fitzgerald, Journalist, Claireville Press, ACT
- Andrea Ho, Master of Ceremony, ABC 666 Canberra
- Professor John Wanna, Australian Politics and Public Policy, Sir John Bunting Chair of Public Administration, Australia and New Zealand School of Government, Australian National University
- Professor Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, Australian Defence Force Academy
- Ms Rachelle Towart , CEO, Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre, Canberra
- Ms Laura Taylor, Gender Advisor, CARE Australia
- Miss Emma Deegan , The young voice of a student at the Australian National University
- Ms Lauren Renshaw, Researcher, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra
- His Excellency Mr Nasir Ahmad Andisha, Ambassador for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
- His Excellency Abdul Malik Abdullah, High Commissioner for Pakistan
- Nicholas Stuart, columnist with The Canberra Times
- Professor William Maley, Foundation Director, Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy
- Andrew Leigh, Federal Member for Fraser, ALP
- Gary Humphries, Liberal Senator for the ACT
- Shane Rattenbury, Member ACT Legislative Assembly, Greens
- John Passant, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Canberra
- Jack Waterford, Editor-at-Large, Canberra Times
- George Tomlins, Dept of Land and Property Services, ACT
- Amanda Bresnan, MLA, ACT Greens
- Peter Sandeman, CEO, Anglicare
- John Miller, Executive Director, Master Builders Association, ACT
- Shayleen Barlow, HR Manager, Goodwin Aged Care
- Senator Gary Humphries (Liberal)
- Ms Kerry Tucker (Greens)
- Dr Deb Foskey (Greens)
- Mr Bob McMullan (Labor)
- Prof Ian Chubb (Vice Chancellor, Australian National University (ANU))
- Prof Stephen Parker (Vice Chancellor, University of Canberra)
- Prof John Warhurst (ANU), President, ACT Republican Movement
- Prof Aiden Byrne (ANU),
- Ms Karen Middleton (SBS TV)
- Ms Virginia Haussegger (Writer, Journalist, ABC TV)
- Cardinal George Pell (Catholic Archbishop, Sydney)
- Ms Mary Porter (MLA ACT Legislative Assembly)
- Bishop Francis (Former Archbishop of ACT and Golburn)
- Dr Colin Adrian (CEO Canberra Institute of Technology)
- Dr Mandy Scott (University of Canberra)
- Prof Swee Hin Toh ( Griffith University)
- Mr Simon Grose (Canberra Times)
- Prof William Maley (ANU)
- Dr Christopher Snedden (Deakin University)
- Rabbi John Levi (Melbourne University)
- Dr Hussein Mughaddam (ANU)
- Hon Jalil Jilani (Ex High Commissioner for Pakistan in Australia)
- Mr Bruce Sinclair (Humanist, Canberra)
- Mr Zed Seselja (ACT Liberal Party – MLA, Leader of the Opposition)
- Ms Meredith Hunter (MLA,ACT Greens)
- Mr Jack Waterford (Canberra Times)
- Mr Neil Savery (ACT Housing)
- Prof Terry Hull (ANU)
- Mr Alan Fitzgerald (President, Australian Constitutional Monarchy, ACT)
- Dr Julia Newton (CEO Care Australia)
- Mr Ahmed Yusuf (Former President, Canberra Islamic Centre)
- Ms Kerry Tucker (ACT Greens)
- Dr Muhammad Yamin (Canberra University)
All of the forums were well attended and productive. Most of them were covered by media including, radio, TV and newspapers.