About This Event
Multicultural Australia in partnership with QPAC is excited to be hosting Changing the Conversation: Words That Bind – Creating unity through our many languages, is the final event in our 2024 series of thought-provoking discussions exploring key issues in our increasingly multicultural society.
Join us for a panel conversation about the transformative potential of language diversity as a tool for nation building, economic empowerment, and social inclusion in contemporary Australian society. A multilingual Australia holds many benefits including richer cultural exchange and stronger ties with global partners and enhanced diplomatic and economic relationships. Explore how language has the power to build bridges by connecting communities, fostering understanding, and promoting unity and cohesion while celebrating the richness of our cultural diversity.
Click on ‘Book Now’ to be directed to QPAC ticket sales – it’s essential that tickets are pre-booked.
About Changing the Conversation
Bringing together thought leaders from academia, government, business, and the community to engage in robust discussions about multiculturalism in the Australian context, the Changing the Conversation series – presented by Multicultural Australia in partnership with QPAC – explores issues of who and where we are as a nation and what we need to do to create a society that better reflects and cares for all its people. Words That Bind: Creating Unity Through our Many Languages is the thought-provoking finale of this series for 2024.
We look forward to you engaging with this conversation.
Benjamin Law - Facilitator
Benjamin Law writes books, TV screenplays, columns, essays and feature journalism. Most recently, Ben edited the collection of stories, ‘Growing Up Queer’ in Australia and was also a researcher and associate producer on Blackfella Films’ ‘Deep Water: The Real Story’ (SBS) and a writer on Endemol Shine’s ‘Sisters’ (Ten).
Recently he starred in the ABC’s two-part documentary series ‘Waltzing the Dragon with Benjamin Law’, where he travels from China to Arnhem Land to explore the history, unpack the present, and look to the future of Australia’s relationship with China. Every week, Benjamin co-hosts ABC RN’s weekly national pop culture show ‘Stop Everything’. He also co-hosts online startup and tech TV show ‘That Startup Show’, and you can catch him on TV shows like ‘Q&A’ (ABC), ‘The Drum’ (ABC), ‘The Projec’t (Ten) and ‘Filthy Rich and Homeless’ (SBS).
The Hon Chief Justice Helen Bowskill - Panelist
Sworn in as Chief Justice of Queensland in March 2022, the Honourable Helen Bowskill has previously served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland since July 2017, and as the Senior Judge Administrator of the Supreme Court of Queensland from August 2021.
She previously served as a Judge of the District Court of Queensland from November 2014, in that capacity also sitting as a Judge of the Children’s Court of Queensland and the Planning and Environment Court.
Her Honour served as the Associate to the Honourable Justice Drummond of the Federal Court of Australia in 1996 and completed articles of clerkship with Minter Ellison in 1997. She was admitted as a solicitor in January 1998, and as a barrister in July 1998. She commenced practice at the private Bar in Brisbane in July 1998. Her Honour took silk in November 2013. As a barrister, she practised widely in public, administrative and commercial law areas, with a particular focus on native title law.
Her Honour is a member and current Chair of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.
Professor Ghil’ad Zuckermann - Panelist
Professor Ghil‘ad Zuckermann (DPhil Oxford; PhD Cambridge) is listed among Australia’s top 30 ‘living legends of research’ by The Australian newspaper (2024). He received the Rubinlicht Prize for his outstanding contribution to Yiddish scholarship in 2023. He is the Chair of the Jury for the Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Professor Zuckermann is the founder of Revivalistics, a new global, comparative, trans-disciplinary field of enquiry surrounding language reclamation, revitalization and reinvigoration. In 2011 he launched, with the Barngarla Aboriginal communities of Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, the reclamation of the Barngarla language.
He was elected fellow of the Academy of Oriental Scholars (Shanghai) in 2011 and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in 2014. He was President of the Australian Association for Jewish Studies in 2017-2023, President of AustraLex in 2013-2015, Chief Investigator in an NHMRC research project assessing language revival and mental health in 2017-2021, Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Fellow in 2007–2011, and Gulbenkian Research Fellow at Churchill College Cambridge in 2000-2004. He has been an elected board member of the Foundation for Endangered Languages (FEL).
He has been Consultant and Expert Witness in (corpus) lexicography, trademarks and (forensic) linguistics, in court cases all over the globe.
Zuckermann is Professor (Level E) at Flinders University (Adelaide), Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education, Australian Catholic University (Sydney) and Visiting Professor at Middlebury College (Vermont, USA).
Sachem - Panelist
Growing up on an island population of 2,500 people, Sachém holds both ancestral ties to Noonuccal (North Stradbroke Island) and Black America. His story, experience and approach to music are ones that the world has not seen before – reflecting both front-line First Nation / African American perspectives within the Australian environment and a deep understanding of the hip-hop community and its culture.
Recent Elefant Traks signee, Sachém, has opened at prestigious Music Awards, AFL Indigenous Round 2022, RPAC theatre & QPAC with his recent theatre show ‘The Bigger Picture’ featuring a 22 piece orchestra. Sachém has worked with artists such as LaRussell (Live Nation), Tom Thum, Nerve & LaTheGoat (Def Jam).
He was also awarded the 2017 Oodgeroo Noonuccal Poetry Prize (Queensland Poetry Festival), the 2020 Brisbane City Council Best Original Song Award and was recently nominated for a 2022 & 2024 QMA Award. His most recent project, ‘The Bigger Picture’ saw him earn the title of Feature Artist of the Week by triple J unearthed and Album of the Week by 4ZZZ. Not to mention, his live theatre show at QPAC brought in 700+ tickets and spoke so deeply to so many souls on Reconciliation Week 2023.
Tea Dietterich - Panelist
Tea Dietterich is the Founder and CEO of 2M Language Services, Australia’s leading language service and language technology provider specialising in safe and ethical Language AI.
She leads the conversation on safe and customised Language AI in Australia, with recent achievements including the AI Translator App for Emergency Management Victoria (EMV), designed to promote safety equity among CALD communities.
Tea serves as President of the Australasian Association of Language Companies (AALC) and Chairman of the Board for the German Australian Business Alliance (iGABA) and is also Board and Council Member of University of Queensland BA Advisory Board, NAATI Regional Advisory Council and German Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Tea is Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Queensland’s School of Languages and Cultures and a NAATI-certified Interpreter and Translator in her own right.
See why previous attendees love the Changing the Conversation Series:
“An amazing night where I heard inspiring speakers and listened to a future that filled me with hope for a new direction.”
“…extremely worthwhile. Some extremely interesting speakers from across the age range. I am looking forward to the next event.”
“…the Multicultural Australia panelists were brilliant.”
