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Connections: The Power of the Gift

Despite an increasingly “connected” technological world, we are surrounded by stories of isolation, inequality and powerlessness. Is this genuine connection?

Join us for a one day exploration – of connection to the earth, to the community, to family and friends, and to ourselves.


Program



Keynote Speaker


Aunty Fran Bodkin
Aunty Fran Bodkin

Aunty Fran Bodkin

Aunty Fran Bodkin is a descendant of the D’harawal people of the Bidiagal clan. She is an educator of D’harawal knowledge and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with five majors, one of which is Environmental Sciences, plus other post graduate degrees. She has published three books on D’harawal culture, stories and natural resources. 

Aunty Fran works tirelessly with groups of all ages, sharing ethno-scientific knowledge passed down by traditional clans and which is being increasingly referred to by modern research, in order to promote a deeper understanding of how to care for our natural environment.


Workshop Facilitators


Tom Halbert
Tom Halbert

Tom Halbert

Turning Points

Tom’s sustainability focus is in empowering community led responses using the many tools that have been developed over the last several decades, particularly Deep Listening. He has a BA in sustainable development from Murdoch University in W.A.

Stephen Hill
Stephen Hill

Professor Stephen Hill AM

Stephen Hill is Emeritus Professor of the University of Wollongong, Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts. Though graduating initially as a research chemist, he also was awarded Australia’s first PhD in Business Administration (University of Melbourne) and was appointed as Foundation Professor of Sociology at the University of Wollongong at age 30.

He has authored or coauthored 22 books and over 350 publications or major international speeches across eleven disciplines. From 1995 to 2006 he served as the United Nations’ Regional Director for Science for Asia and the Pacific and Ambassador of the UN Agency, UNESCO – based in Indonesia and Paris.

Venerable Juefang
Venerable Juefang

Venerable Juefang

Venerable Juefang is the director of International Relations at Nan Tien Institute and the General Manager of the Hsing Yun Education Foundation. She received her PhD in education studies from Peking University, China and her MA in Buddhist studies from Fo Guang University, Taiwan.


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