In 2020, Cheng Lei was working as a business reporter for China's state-run English language television station when she was arrested on charges of sharing state secrets. She was detained in China for over three years under harsh conditions, including prolonged solitary confinement and restricted access to her family, before finally being released.  

Now, back in Australia and free to write and speak her mind, Lei recounts her story in A Memoir of Freedom, an extraordinary memoir of her arrest, trial, imprisonment – and most importantly, her survival. Written with vivid immediacy, this new book is a powerful meditation on hope, freedom and the power of the human spirit. 

In conversation with James Scullin, Lei offers a complex, deeply personal account of her experience in confinement, resisting black-and-white thinking in favour of a more nuanced view. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Lei in her own words.

Date: Tuesday 29 April

Time: 18:30 - 19:30

Location: The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Tickets: https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2025/cheng-lei-a-memoir-of-freedom

For any enquiries, please contact [email protected].

This event is in partnership with The Wheeler Centre.

About our speakers

Cheng Lei, News Presenter and Columnist, Sky News Australia

Cheng Lei is an Australian Chinese journalist who has worked in the media for over twenty years. From her start in finance to covering China during its economic rise starting in the early 2000s, even during her imprisonment, she has always been impassioned about using her bilingual advantage and bicultural insights to be the medium between two worlds. She received the Press Freedom Award from the Australian Press Council in 2024 and was The Australian newspaper's Australian of the Year in 2023. She is currently a presenter and columnist for Sky News Australia.

James Scullin, Director of Programs, Asia Society Australia

James Scullin is the Program Director at Asia Society Australia, a global organisation dedicated to deepening understanding of Asia and its role in the world. He leads the organisation’s external engagement and professional development activities, focused on advancing Australia’s security and prosperity in Asia.

This includes overseeing the annual Asia Summit – Australia’s largest Asia-focused geopolitical and economic forum – as well as professional development initiatives designed to strengthen Australia’s Asia intelligence and foster the next generation of Asia-engaged leaders. James also leads programs aimed at championing and promoting a greater role for Asian Australians in shaping Australia’s relations with the region.

He brings 14 years of experience working with Asia-focused not-for-profits and was previously the National Project Manager at the Australia China Business Council. He is also the author of the photography book Hotels of Pyongyang.