Meet our Conference Panel Facilitator
and
Key Note Speaker
Dr Meredith Lake - Panel Facilitator
Meredith is an historian and broadcaster, especially curious about how Australians reckon with the big questions of life in this place.She's hosted the ABC podcast Soul Search since 2019, but following a snap decision to leave her hometown for the central Australian desert in late 2023, you can also find her on ABC Alice Springs.An historian at heart, Meredith is still mulling over the themes of her PhD thesis - to do with religion, colonialism, and the Australian environment.
Meredith's latest book is The Bible in Australia: a cultural history - which won the Australian History prize at the 2019 Prime Minister's Literary Awards and the 2019 NSW Premier's History awards. It was also named winner of the Non-Fiction award at the 2020 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, the 2019 CHASS Book of the year and 2018 Australian Christian Book of the Year.
Dr. Anne Pattel-Gray PhD DD - Key Note Speaker
Professor Anne Pattel-Gray is the Head of the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity, Melbourne Australia, and a member of the Uniting Church in Australia. She previously held the position of Executive Secretary and founded the establishment of the Aboriginal and Islander Commission with the Australian Council of Churches/National Council of Churches in Australia from 1989-1998. She had organised all the Indigenous participation in the 1991 World Council of Churches 7th Assembly in Canberra. She was responsible for the establishment of the Indigenous Desk at the WCC, and she brings a very long history of advocating on the rights of Indigenous peoples. Professor Pattel-Gray has an earned Ph.D. from the University of Sydney awarded in 1995 in the Studies of Religion with the major focus on Indigenous Religion and Spirituality. And a Doctor of Divinity from India awarded in 1997. Pattel-Gray has recently been appointed to the World Council of Churches (WCC), Commission for World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) and historically she worked with WCC from the late 80s through to early 2000s on commissions such as the Program to Combat Racism, Urban Rural Mission, and she twice presented at Central Committee on Indigenous Issues.
During her time as the national administrator with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, of the Uniting church in Australia. She organised the largest Indigenous protest march of over 50,000 people – The March for Justice, Freedom and Hope led by the Rev Charles Harris in 1988 against the bi-centenary. Professor Pattel-Gray has achieved many firsts in her prestigious life, and she is known as a trailblazer, she has opened many doors for her people. She is a recognized scholar, theologian, activist and prolific writer with several publications. Professor Anne Pattel-Gray is a descendant of the Bidjara Nation in Queensland and a renowned Aboriginal leader within Australia – nationally and internationally. She has dedicated her life to the struggle of First Nations people as a strong campaigner, lobbyist towards seeking justice, equity and equal representation for First Nations people.
Please click here to access our conference website to see the programme and read more about our fantastic speakers.