Monash University’s Constructive Institute Asia Pacific inaugural Director Professor Stan Grant will deliver the opening lecture at ANU’s Crawford Leadership Forum tonight.
Under this year’s theme of Democratic resilience and renewal for the 21st century, the forum will bring together leading thinkers and practitioners from business, government and academia from Australia and around the world, examining key issues facing democracies today.
Coming just a couple of weeks after Australia voted ‘No’ in an historic referendum on First Nations recognition, Professor Grant’s speech The Witness of Poetry will take the audience on a journey through his reflections on this vote.
“As the votes were tallied and a ‘No’ vote was delivered, as Australia decided who we are as a nation, it reminded me of the space between us,” Professor Grant said.
“I know the language of the op-ed column, words written for effect. Words written with an audience already in mind. I know the performative parry and thrust of the television interview too often an exercise in gotcha and evasion. Knowing all this, I have chosen to maintain my silence mostly. Still the noise seeps in.”
“There is a time for discussion. There is a time for debate. And sometimes amidst the noise there is even insight. But there is a place for silence. Sacred silence. It doesn’t mean we should not keep striving for good journalism but it had better be good, because we are competing with silence.”
Professor Grant’s JG Crawford Oration will take place on Monday 30 October from 5:30pm-9:00pm at ANU in Canberra. The oration will be an invite only event and will be recorded.
