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Conference background
We are witnessing a period of tumultuous change across the globe. Driven by factors such as the far-reaching impacts of climate change, political and economic upheavals of Brexit, US withdrawal from international leadership coupled with the rise of Chinese transnational organisations, persistent international terrorism, and widening political and social polarisation, this wave of change is restructuring how the world works.
What is the role of the Commonwealth of Nations in these changing times?
This conference will explore the normative and practical leadership roles of faith communities, universities, and the Commonwealth of Nations itself under the theme: 'Sustainable Peace and Development in a Polarising World: Perspectives and Contributions from the Commonwealth of Nations'.
Based on the successful precedents of events organised in conjunction with the G20 and G8 Summits, it is clear that input from a broad range of voices strengthen international decision making. This conference will assemble experts from around the Commonwealth as part of the activities surrounding the Commonwealth Games on the Australian Gold Coast in April 2018.
Get your tickets
Get your tickets via our Eventbrite page to attend Commonwealth Conference
Sustainable Peace and Development in a Polarising World
Session Time | Session Description | Speakers |
---|---|---|
9 April 2018 | CONFERENCE DAY ONE | |
16.30 to 17.30 | Registration and reception prior to conference dinner | |
17.30 to 21.00 | Conference Dinner: | Maha Sinnathamby, Prof Singh, Setsuko Thurlow w/ Cesar Jaramillo, Brian Adams, |
Session Time | Session Description | Speakers |
---|---|---|
10 April 2018 | Day Two A: The Past and Future Commonwealth | |
8.30 to 10.00 | Opening Plenary: The Commonwealth as a "Workable World" Model | Chair: Andrew West Panelists: Keith Best, Florencia Gor, Derek McDougall |
10.00 to 10.30 | Morning tea | |
10.30 to 11.45 | Plenary Session: The Commonwealth: Governing for Sustainable Peace and Development. | Chair: Gary Hardgrave Panelists: Keith Best, Lemi Taefu, Rachel Blaney, Sherrie Steiner |
11.45 to 13.00 | First Parallel Session A: Contextualising Sustainable Peace and Development in the Commonwealth | Chair: Mahinda Deegalle Panelists: Carol Angir, Nur Hidayah, Munir Khasru, Thomas Albrecht |
11.45 to 13.00 | First Parallel Session B: Plurality or Polarity: Diversity Across the Commonwealth | Chair: Brian Adams Panelists: Paul Morris, Ahmad Yousif, James Christie |
13.00 to 14.00 | Lunch break | |
Day Two B: The Commonwealth and Interfaith Dialogue | ||
14.00 to 15.30 | Plenary: Religious Leader Engagement | Chair: James Christie Panelists: Steve Moore, Ants Hawes, John Saunders |
15.30 to 16.00 | Afternoon tea | |
16.00 to 17.30 | First Parallel Session A: Sustaining Peace and Development: Role of Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue | Chair: TBA Panelists: Upolu Vaai, Sven Schottmann, Abdul Muhaimin |
16.00 to 17.30 | Second Parallel Session B: Challenges to Peace and Development in the Commonwealth | Chair: Munir Khasru Panelists: Leah Gazan, Cesar Jaramillo, Gerhard Hoffstaedter, Florencia Gor |
17.30 to 19.00 | Free time |
Session Time | Session Description | Speakers |
---|---|---|
11 April 2018 | Day Three AM: The Commonwealth, Peace and Security | |
8.30 to 10.00 | Opening Plenary: Reconciliation Across the Commonwealth | Chair: Carol Angir Panelists: Leah Gazan, Munir Khasru |
10.00 to 10.30 | Morning tea | |
10.30 to 11.30 | First Parallel Session A: Women of the Commonwealth Leading Peace and Development | Chair: Senator Claire Moore Panelists: Carol Angir, Nur Hidayah, Rachel Blaney |
10.30 to 11.30 | First Parallel Session B: Youth Contributions to Religion & Sustainable Development in the Commonwealth | Chair: Nisha Bagha Panelists: Laiqa Kumar, Yaqeen Sikander, Abbas Panakkal |
11.45 to 13.00 | Second Parallel Session A: Muslims Building Peace and Security in the Commonwealth | Chair: Lina Salim Panelists: Munir Khasru, Adis Duderija, Ahmad Yousif |
11.45 to 13.00 | Second Parallel Session B: Religion, Sustainable Peace and Development | Chair: James Christie Panelists: Swami Sadyojathah, Paul Morris, Mahinda Deegalle |
13.00 to 14.00 | Lunch break | |
Day Three PM: The Commonwealth and Sustainable Development | ||
14.00 to 15.30 | Plenary Session: Sustaining Peace and Development: Role of Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue | Chair: Hassan Saeed Panelists: Brian Adams, Elizabeth Krishna, |
15.30 to 16.00 | Afternoon tea | |
16.00 to 17.30 | Afternoon Plenary: Sustainable Peace and Development: Who Leads? | Chair: Brian Adams, James Christie World Café Workshop |
17.30 to 18.00 | Closing Plenary | Brian Adams |
Speakers and Biographies
Download the timetable
Partners and Sponsors
- Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue, Griffith University, Australia
- PM Glynn Institute, Australian Catholic University
- Power of Peace Festival
- Ridd Institute for Religion and Global Policy, University of Winnipeg, Canada
- The Workable World Trust
- Griffith Review
- Worldview Associates
- Kinetic Collective
- Fo Guang Shan Chung Tian Temple
- GUMURRII SSU
Contact Us
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Location, Delivery and Postal Address
Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue (N35)
Nathan Campus
Griffith University
170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111
Australia