IAC Events and Public Seminars
This online forum features prominent voices in art, literature and history, music, cultural studies and queer studies via keynote speeches and panel discussions by leading experts on LGBTIQA+ topics throughout the Sinosphere (mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong), Australia and around the world.
The Hon. Kevin Rudd AC, 26th Prime Minister of Australia, in conversation with Professor Jocelyn Chey AM. Mr Rudd discussed ideas from his new book, and shared his in-depth analysis of Australia’s position in relation to China and the US and offered new ways of thinking about current geo-political crises amid an overwhelming news cycle.
Hosted by OzAsia Festival Artistic Director, ACIAC Advisory Board member Annette Shun Wah, three panellists including ACIAC Director Professor Jing Han, Thai-Australian playwright and screenwriter Anchuli Felicia King and actor, writer and activist Jo Kukathas working across cultures, languages (and time zones) connect to discuss miscommunication, freedom of expression and censorship.
Dr Geoff Raby’s new book China’s Grand Strategy and Australia’s Future in the New Global Order is released at a time when the debate on China has become highly polarised. Dr Raby argues that the rise of China, Trump's America First policies, division within Europe and successful defiance by authoritarian states are all affecting the shape of the emerging new world order.
This conversation will explore possible scenarios for bilateral relations with China over the next couple of years with and without engagement. While the decline of the relationship over the past three years has been well documented, many options for the future remain to be considered. Speakers include Michael Smith, China correspondent for the Australian Financial Review, and Dr Geoff Raby, Director of Geoff Raby Associates and former ambassador to China (2007-2011).
In this talk Dr Tony Ren, an expert in digital publishing, shares his research on webnovels and explore the emergent trends of online creative writing, social reading and digital publishing. Dr Ren will present some big data research findings, drawing on over 4,000 webnovel titles translated from Chinese to English and their reading metrics.
Dr Geoff Raby AO who initiated the Australian Writers Week in China while he was Ambassador to China from 2007 to 2011, will discuss with Professor Jocelyn Chey, the first Australian Cultural Counsellor in China, the thinking behind the Writers Week, how it was negotiated and organised, what long-lasting results have followed, as well as the way forward in the present climate of political tension and global pandemic.
Professor Walker’s two books argue that the response to Asia has played a central role in the formation of the Australian nation. Together with Professor FitzGerald, Professor Walker will unwrap some of the questions around these arguments.
The first Australian Cultural Counsellor in China after the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, Professor Jocelyn Chey, in conversation with one of the earliest China specialists, advisor to Whitlam and Australia’s first ambassador to PR China, Professor Stephen FitzGerald.
Video recording of ACIAC seminar “Cultural Diplomacy and Australia-China Relations”. Three distinguished speakers including Professor Ien Ang, Professor Jocelyn Chey and Professor Nicholas Jose, were invited to share their views on the topic.
