Join Aisa Society Australia, Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane and University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence AC at the launch of new research on cultural diversity and Australian leadership.

Australia is widely celebrated as a multicultural triumph, but any such success remains incomplete. There remains significant under-representation of cultural diversity in the senior leadership of Australian organisations. Our society does not yet appear to be making the most of its diverse talents.

The findings of a new report, produced by the Australian Human Rights Commission in partnership with Asia Society Australia, the University of Sydney Business School and the Committee for Sydney and suggest we have a long way to go before realising the full potential of our multicultural population.

Date: Wednesday 11 April 2018
Time: 3:00 - 5:00pm
Venue: Refectory (Level 5), Abercrombie Business School

This is a public and free event. 

To put your name on the waitlist please email [email protected].

About our speakers:

Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission. Prior to joining the Australian Human Rights Commission, Tim was a political philosopher and held posts at The University of Sydney and Monash University. His thinking on multiculturalism, patriotism and national identity has been influential in shaping debates in Australia and Britain. Tim is the author of four books: I’m Not Racist But … (2015), The Virtuous Citizen (2012), Don't Go Back To Where You Came From (2012), and Reclaiming Patriotism (2009). He was co-editor (with Nick Dyrenfurth) of All That's Left (2010). He has been an opinion columnist with The Age and The Weekend Australian newspapers, and presented the documentary series Mongrel Nation on ABC Radio National (2013). Tim is an adjunct professor at the School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University and chairs the Leadership Council on Cultural Diversity.

Dr Michael Spence AC, University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and Principal. Dr Spence was appointed the 25th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney in 2008, as an alumnus of the University of Sydney, having graduated with first-class honours in English, Italian and law. His other languages include Chinese and Korean. Dr Spence lectured in law at the University and worked for the Australian Copyright Council prior to departing from Australia and establishing himself at the University of Oxford in order to undertake doctoral studies. At Oxford, Dr Spence obtained a Doctor of Philosophy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology. Dr Spence is recognised internationally as a leader in the field of intellectual property theory. His work includes articles and books on both intellectual property law and the law of obligations, with a critical focus on suggested ethical and economic justifications of the existing regimes.

Swati Dave is the Managing Director and CEO, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC). She is an experienced senior banking executive and non-executive director with an established track record of successfully leading and growing complex P&L businesses in Australia, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. Swati has over 30 years’ banking and finance experience across a number of sectors including infrastructure, energy and utilities, renewable energy and property. She has held senior positions at National Australia Bank, Deutsche Bank, AMP Henderson Global Investors, Bankers Trust and Westpac. Swati currently serves on the boards of State Super and Asia Society Australia. She has served as a former director of Australian Hearing, Great Western Bancorp Inc. (USA) and the NAB Wealth Responsible Entity Boards. Swati holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.

Cilla Robinson is a Partner at Clayton Utz, where she is the go-to workplace lawyer for businesses involved in industrial unrest, transformation, disruption, takeovers, mergers, acquisitions, reconstructions, offshoring and outsourcing.She works closely with clients to manage their workforces in what are often very fluid and potentially volatile situations, so they can develop robust industrial strategies, unlock the value in their core businesses and achieve new growth. Whether they are HR business partners, legal counsel, executives, business managers, CEOs/MDs or company boards, Cilla's clients particularly appreciate her consistently commercial approach and ability to understand their business strategy, navigate complex legal issues and then explain them in an accessible and concise manner.

Professor Greg Whitwall, is the Dean of the University of Sydney Business School.  His past appointments include high-profile leadership roles across the academic sector. Prior to joining the University of Sydney, he was a Professor of Marketing and Senior Deputy Dean of the Australian School of Business (ASB) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Serving as its de facto chief operating officer from 2011, he was responsible for the execution of ASB strategy, requiring the alignment of academic staffing, education programs and research activities with the school's strategic priorities. In this role, he was also responsible for leading ASB-wide initiatives and reviews. Before his UNSW appointment, Greg was Deputy Dean and Director (Graduate School of Business and Economics) in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne; and Chair, Academic Senate, U21 Global. Previously, he held a variety of positions at the University of Melbourne, including acting Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching, Learning and Equity) in 2009; the inaugural Associate Dean (Academic Programs) in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce; and the inaugural Associate Dean (International). Greg gained his first degree in 1978, a Bachelor of Economics with First Class Honours, from Monash University. He went on to acquire a PhD in Economic History at the University of Melbourne in 1982.

Our Arts, Culture and Diversity Programs span across visual art and performance, literature, media, technology, education, and community sectors. These unique partner events examine cultural traditions and expressions, celebrate diversity and multiculturalism, and explore a changing Australian society. Run as both public and member only events, this programming stream offers an exciting way to engage with the work of Asia Society Australia.

This program is presented as part of Sydney Ideas in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission and Sydney University.