Speakers
Tim Costello AO
Rev Tim Costello is one of Australia's leading voices on social justice issues. He's taken a prominent role in national debates on issues such as gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse. He became the Chief Executive of World Vision Australia in February 2004. He was named Victorian of the Year in 2004 and Victorian Australian of the Year in 2006. In 2005, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia. Prior to joining World Vision, Rev Costello served as Minister at the Collins Street Baptist Church in Melbourne and was the National President of the Baptist Union of Australia between 1999 and 2002.
Tim studied Law and Education at Monash University and Theology at the International Baptist Seminary in Rueschlikon, Switzerland. He also received a Masters degree in Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity. The books he has authored includes: Another Way to Love; Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda; Tips from a Travelling Soul Searcher; and Wanna Bet? Winners and Losers in Gambling's Luck Myth (co-authored with Royce Millar).
Ian Frazer
Professor Ian Frazer was trained as a renal physician and clinical immunologist in Edinburgh, Scotland before emigrating in 1980 to Melbourne, Australia, to pursue studies in immunology and autoimmunity. In 1985 he moved to Brisbane to take up a teaching post at the University of Queensland, where he now holds a chair as head of the Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research.
Professor Frazer won the 2005 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science and was named Australian of the Year in 2006 for his development of the human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical cancer vaccines. He was appointed Chair for 2009 of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation's prestigious Medical Research Advisory Committee. Professor Frazer also chairs the medical and scientific advisory committee of the Queensland Cancer Fund, and advises the WHO and the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation on papillomavirus vaccines.
Andrew Griffiths
Professor Andrew Griffiths is Chair in Business Sustainability and Strategy in the University of Queensland Business School, and the Academic Director of the School's Corporate Sustainability Executive Program. An expert in business strategy and climate change, corporate sustainability strategy and change, he has published four books: The Sustainable Corporation (1998); Sustainability (2000); with Dexter Dunphy and Sue Benn, Organisational Change for Sustainability (2006); and Climate Change Strategy (forthcoming). His work has been published in leading international journals, and he has worked with leading organisations to help them develop and implement climate change response and integrated sustainability strategies. Professor Griffiths sits on the sustainability advisory panels of Aurecon, Laing O'Rouke and Blue Care. In March 2010 he became the Associate Director (Academic) of the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland.
Elizabeth Shaw
Elizabeth Shaw grew up in Melbourne, and undertook the International Baccalaureate at Wesley College. After completing a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne, Elizabeth moved to Perth to complete her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Western Australia. During her time at university, Elizabeth was heavily involved in the community, serving as the Editor of the UWA Student Newspaper, the President of the UWA Law Students’ Society, the Chair of the City of Perth Youth Advisory Council and a Student Editor on the UWA Law Review.
In 2008, Elizabeth was selected to be the Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. She spent 5 months travelling around Australia consulting with over 5,000 young people before discussing key issues with the Prime Minister and Secretary General and presenting her findings at the UN General Assembly in New York.
In 2009, Elizabeth established the Perth Chapter of Young UNIFEM Australia, which raised over $25,000 for UNIFEM projects, graduated 80 young women from Leadership Forums and ran 12 successful events dedicated to the advancement of women.
After working at the State Solicitor’s Office for 3.5 years, Elizabeth moved to Canberra in 2010 and is working as the Executive Officer of the United Nations Association of Australia while completing a Masters of Public Policy at the ANU.
She sits on the Board of Directors for three non-profit organisations – the Inspire Foundation, the Left Right Think Tank and UNIFEM Australia.
Sonia Caton
Sonia Caton is a lawyer specialised in immigration law with 20 years experience, and has been a tireless advocate for individuals who have sought asylum in Australia, including a period working at Australia's off-shore refugee processing centre on Christmas Island.Sonia has witnessed the impact of government laws and policies on the ability of people to come to Australia both temporarily and permanently, and she has participated in national conversations concerning asylum seekers, international students, access to justice, and issues such as how the global community might respond to forced migrations brought about by climate change and sea level rise.
Sonia lectures in law and is a board member of the Refugee Council of Australia and the Migration Agents Registration Authority. Sonia is the former Director and Principal Solicitor of The Refugee and Immigration Legal Service, and this organisation was awarded the national Human Rights Award for a "Community Organisation" during the period of her leadership.
Amanda Lynch
Amanda Lynch is currently studying a double degree in Aboriginal Studies and Social Work through the University of South Australia. During this time Amanda was the Student Representative for the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education & Research College from 2008 - 2009.
Amanda worked within the Kaurna community as an Aboriginal Community Education Officer at Adelaide High School for four years and within the Department for Families and Communities as a tutor for two years.
Amanda also participated in the National Youth Indigenous Leadership Program in 2007 and the National Women’s Advanced Leadership Course in 2008.
Since relocating to Brisbane, Amanda has worked for UnitingCare Centre for Social Justice as a Project Officer as part of a Supervised Practice. Amanda is currently working as an ITAS tutor for the University of Queensland and St Peters Lutheran College.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Young Queenslander of the Year Yassmin Abdel-Magied is dedicated to supporting people in need.
Originally from Sudan, Yassmin was named Australian Muslim of the Year in 2007 and founded Youth Without Borders, an advocacy group that strives to empower young people to work together and implement positive change in their communities.
Yassmin is currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering at The University of Queensland majoring in Mechanical Engineering.