Speakers

Associate Professor Fay Anderson (She/her)

Fay Anderson has published widely on media history, war journalism, genocide, press photography, trauma, memory, biography and crime. She has authored four books, including An Historian's Life: Max Crawford and the Politics of Academic Freedom (MUP, 2005); her co-authored book with Richard Trembath Witnesses to War: The History of Australian Conflict Reporting (MUP, 2011); and Shooting the Picture: Press Photography in Australia, co-authored with Sally Young (MUP, 2016). Her most recent book is The Holocaust and Australian Journalism: Reporting and Reckoning, published in May 2024 by Palgrave Macmillan.

X: @fayanderson13

Moderator: Photography: Ethics, Inspiration and Challenges (Wednesday 31 July at 12.30pm - 1.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Professor Mark Andrejevic (He/him)

Mark Andrejevic is Professor in Monash's School of Media Film and Journalism, where he leads the Automated Society Working Group and serves as CI and Node Leader for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society. He writes about digital automation and surveillance and is the author or co-author of five books, including, most recently, Facial Recognition (Polity, 2022).

X: @MarkAndrejevic

Panellist: META-morphosis: Navigating power and influence in a world of social media giants (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm, online only)

Sodaba Azizi (She/her)

Sodaba Azizi, a talented 19-year-old goalkeeper, proudly represents the Afghanistan Women’s National Team. She currently showcases her skills playing for the Afghan Women’s Team (AWT) under the banner of Melbourne Victory.

Panellist: Game Changers: Representing Sport, Gender and Migration (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm,  ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

John Bevacqua (He/him)

John Bevacqua is a Professor and Head of the Department of Business Law and Taxation, Monash Business School. He is an Australian commercial lawyer with over a decade of experience in private legal practice prior to becoming an academic. John commenced his full time academic career in 2006, and holds a PhD in tax law from the University of New South Wales. John is recognised as an international expert in the field of taxpayer rights and remedies and public authority accountability and continues to publish and present in the field both nationally and internationally.

John joined Monash University in 2019, having held previous academic leadership roles as a Director of Teaching, Campus Head, International Academic Partnerships Senior Advisor and Academic Director of Online Programs. John has held the position of  Associate Dean - Learning and Teaching for the Monash University Faculty of Business and Economics, holds numerous teaching awards and also publishes and presents regularly in the field of hybrid and online teaching and learning.

Pure Profile: John Bevacqua

Panellist: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Dr Stephanie Brookes (She/her)

Dr Stephanie Brookes is Senior Lecturer, Journalism and Media Innovation, in the School of Media, Film and Journalism; she is the Deputy Director of the new Constructive Institute Asia Pacific. Stephanie's career-long focus has been the ways that media, journalism and politics intersect in Australia and internationally. She researches political journalism; fact-checking; journalistic identity; and editorial cartoons, with an enduring interest in the way that the journalists understand and value their central role in healthy democracies. She is a passionate educator, who is committed to designing and delivering innovative, transformative learning experiences for students. She has published widely in academic journal articles and book chapters, and is the author of the book Politics, Media and Campaign Language: Australia’s Identity Anxiety.

Moderator: Coverage, critique and care: Constructive approaches to reporting, communication and creation (Thursday 1 August at 10.00am - 11.00am, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Carolyn Cage (She/her)

Carolyn Cage is a Filmmaker and Researcher who specialises in documentary and factual entertainment for broadcast, digital platforms, and theatrical release. She has contributed to numerous award-winning productions for ABC and SBS. Carolyn also has a background in journalism and academic research. Her work has been widely published and she has contributed to a number of reports and research projects focused on diversity in Australian media including the landmark report Who Gets to Tell Australian Stories.

LinkedIn: Carolyn Cage

Panellist: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Michelle Cheng (She/her)

Michelle Cheng is SBS Head of Creative Diversity for Television and Online Content. Michelle works adjacent to the SBS Commissioning team, supporting SBS’s content and industry initiatives focused on providing tangible career pathways for practitioners under-represented in the sector. Michelle joined SBS in January 2021 and has a background as a journalist, media advisor, TV writer, TV presenter and law (as a qualified solicitor). Michelle has been recognised amongst the 40 under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians, the  AA122 (Asian Australian) List of 2022 and was co-chair of the Screen Diversity Inclusion Network (SDIN) from 2021 to 2023.

Panellist: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Daniela Caldas (She/her)

Daniela Caldas is a PhD candidate at Monash University where she also completed her Master of Communication and Media Studies in 2019. Daniela has over 10 years of experience in the film industry where she has worked in production, distribution, and film festivals in both Brazil and Australia. Her interest in the area also expands to her academic work where she investigates film and cultural policies, Brazilian cinema, political economy, and queer films. She is currently working on her thesis about film policy for the distribution and exhibition sectors.

LinkedIn: Daniela Caldas

Panellist: Alumni Unplugged - Career Conversations (Thursday 1 August at 11.30am - 1.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Angela Conquet (She/her)

Angela Conquet is a PhD candidate at the University of Melbourne researching dance-specific curatorial practices. Her 20-year career spans three continents, Europe, Australia, and Canada as she works across and within a multiplicity of disciplines, contexts and territories. She is currently the International Co-Curator of the Lyon Dance Biennale FORUM (France). Most recently, she was the International Guest Curator of Dance in Vancouver (2021), Artistic Director/CEO of Dancehouse Melbourne (2011-2020) and coordinator of dance AIR programs of Mains d’Oeuvres, Paris.

LinkedIn: Angela Conquet

Panellist: Festival Culture: From Passion to Programs (Thursday 1 August at 3.00pm - 4.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Maura Edmond (She/her)

Dr Maura Edmond researches changes and challenges in the contemporary media, arts and cultural industries, with a focus on digital transformation, policy and gender. Her most recent work analyzing 50 years of gender equality policies in the cultural industries has been published in the European Journal of Cultural Studies.

Panellist: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Dr Ben Eltham (He/him)

Dr Ben Eltham is a Lecturer in Media and Communications at Monash University’s School of Media, Film and Journalism. Ben teaches core units in the Masters of Cultural and Creative Industries and researches widely in the Australian cultural sector. In 2021, he co-wrote the Centre for Future work's research report, Creativity in Crisis: Rebooting Australia's arts and entertainment sector after COVID (with Alison Pennington). Ben also works extensively in the popular media as a journalist and essayist. His latest essay, 'A Miracle Corrupted: The Downfall of an Unloved Prime Minister', is published in the autumn 2023 edition of Meanjin Quarterly.

Twitter: @beneltham

Moderator: META-morphosis: Navigating power and influence in a world of social media giants (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm, online only)

Shahriar Iftekher Ferdous (He/him)

Shahriar is a communications specialist with expertise in building multi-channel communication between organizations and their public, with a proven track record of delivering high-level performance to both employers and communities, augmented by a diverse portfolio of extracurricular engagements. Currently, he is channeling this dedication towards achieving his aspiration of becoming an academic.

LinkedIn: Shahriar Iftekher Ferdous Instagram: @iamtheonewho_laughs

Moderator: Opening Night -  Rhythm of Change (Wednesday 31 July at 6.00pm - 7.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Priyanka Gore (She/they)

Priyanka is a Master of Communication and Media Studies student with a background in literature. She writes creative fiction, including screenplays and plays, and wants to devote her time to creating intersectional stories. She has an interest in filmmaking, and watches movies and knits in her spare time.

LinkedIn: Priyanka Gore

Moderator: Alumni Unplugged - Career Conversations (Thursday 1 August at 11.30am -1.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Sarah Guppy (She/her)

Sarah’s global perspective on working in the music industry is gained from working in Australia, UK and Asia. Working in the London office This Much Talent led to setting up and becoming the Owner of their base in Naarm/Melbourne. Sarah is an accomplished music industry professional with extensive experience in producer, songwriter and artist management, marketing, publicity, radio servicing, event music curation/programming and venue bookings at Revolver, Shadow Electric and Japanese venue Horse Bazaar and has curated her own events Label of Love (record label series) and Labour of Love (music artist exhibition series) the live acts for Melbourne Fashion Week as well as Mountain Goat’s Cans and Bands event alongside The Social Crew.

In 2023 This Much Talent took over the project management for the annual global Record Store Day event for Australia, managing the overall direction of the national event including liaising with over 200 stores, local releases, sponsorship, marketing and social media strategy management.

As the CCO of Singapore based company Gig Life Pro, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to help create purposeful networking and educational opportunities for their curated global community. Her unique global perspective and strategic insights ensure that the company is well-equipped to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry. Sarah has hosted over 150 global music industry online networking events and has worked on trade missions and networking events in London, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Busan, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Sydney, Manila and more.

Sarah has been a speaker on panels at industry conferences and events including BIGSOUND (Brisbane), Face The Music (Melb), Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival, APRA & Music Victoria Workshops (Melb), SONIK (Manila) Indie Week (Canada), Mondo NYC (USA) Vietnam Music Week, Indie-Con (Adelaide, Australia), Taiwan Beats (Taiwan), Ministry of Culture of Mongolia, and has participated as a mentor on programs for The Push, Live Music Professionals, MIME (Music Industry Mentoring Edge with Box Hill Institute) and the AIR Women In Music Mentor Program.

LinkedIn: Gig Life Pro Instagram: @giglifepro

Panellist: Opening Night - Rhythm of Change (Wednesday 31 July at 6.00pm - 7.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (She/her)

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is a passionate environmentalist, community campaigner, feminist, and human rights activist. With 16 years in the Parliament, Sarah has become one of the country's leading voices on women in politics, environmental protection, climate change, media laws and diversity, and human rights policy.

Sarah has a strong interest in media and communications policy, heading the push for a shake up of media laws in Australia and a Royal Commission for media reform and diversity. Most recently she introduced a bill to establish a Royal Commission into the Murdoch media empire and the control and influence they have over Australian democracy.

Her short book “En Garde” was a personal exposé that helped break the silence on women’s treatment in modern Australian politics. Sarah has been a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum since 2016 and was a Bloomberg Catalyst in 2021.

Instagram: @sarah_hansonyoung  Facebook:  Senator.Sarah.Hanson.Young

Panellist: META-morphosis: Navigating power and influence in a world of social media giants (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm, online only)

Patrick Hutchings (He/him)

An experienced saxophonist, composer and music technologist, Patrick has spent the last 10 years researching and building machine learning tools for musicians.  At Aimi he has been leading AI initiatives and policy and collaborating with artists to navigate the music industry's adoption of AI technologies.

Panellist: Opening Night - Rhythm of Change (Wednesday 31 July at 6.00pm - 7.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Madeline Hayman-Reber (Gomeroi woman, She/her)

Madeline is a proud Gomeroi woman and First Nations journalist and activist who is passionate about mob telling their own stories. She has worked across many publications including Fairfax Media, Deadly Vibe, NITV/SBS, was Media Advisor to Senator Lidia Thorpe, 10 News First Melbourne, Triple RRR Melbourne, and most recently, Children’s Ground as First Nations Communications and Partnerships Manager. She is passionate about First Nations justice and to enable storytelling so our individual voices are heard and amplified.

X: @MadelineHayman

Panellist: Coverage, critique and care: Constructive approaches to reporting, communication and creation (Thursday 1 August at 10.00am - 11.00am, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Billy Head (He/him)

Billy Head is a practice academic teaching the theory and practice of documentary, screenwriting and extended reality filmmaking, at Monash University, Melbourne. His films have been the recipient of numerous film and video awards including the Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) Awards, the MarCom Awards in the USA, and the Cannes International Corporate Media and Television Awards in France. Billy is currently completing a practice-based PhD that investigates the making of the seminal 1939 urban planning documentary film The City.

Host: Film Screening: Student Documentary Films (Thursday 1 August at 5.00pm - 6.00pm, Room G1.04 (MADA Theatre, Building G, Level 1, Caulfield Campus))

Megan Herbert (She/her)

Megan Herbert is an Australian cartoonist, writer, and illustrator whose career has spanned over twenty years. After 13 years living abroad (in the UK, Iceland, and the Netherlands), she returned to Australia to become a regular editorial cartoonist for The Nine newspapers in 2022, receiving in the same year the Kennedy Awards’ Vince O’Farrell Award for Outstanding Cartoon. Her climate change kids’ book, The Tantrum That Saved The World, awarded a Moonbeam Award for books about Environmental Issues and the Louis J. Battan Award for best children’s book, was written to empower children, and the adults in their lives, to replace their climate anxiety with active hope.

X: @meganjherbert  Instagram: @meganjherbert  Facebook: Megan Herbert

Panellist: Coverage, critique and care: Constructive approaches to reporting, communication and creation (Thursday 1 August at 10.00am - 11.00am, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Esme Louse James (She/her)

Esmé Louise James (@esme.louisee) is a PhD Candidate, TEDx Speaker, and creator of the Kinky History with over 3 million followers. Esmé’s book Kinky History was published by Pantera Press in Australia, and TarcherPerigee worldwide, in 2024. She received funding from Screen Australia's Every Voice initiative for the TikTok series, SexTistics, and was nominated for Best Digital Creator at the 2022 AACTA Awards. In 2023, Esmé was honoured with the University of Melbourne's Rising Star Alumni Award. She has recently been awarded 2024 Best Digital Creator by MediaWeek.

Instagram: @esme.louisee  TikTok: @esme.louiseeFacebook: Esme Louise James

Panellist: Creator Corner: Mixing your professional and private life as a content creator (Wednesday 31 July at 11.00am - 12.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Akane Kanai (She/her)

Dr Akane Kanai is a Senior Research Fellow, completing a Discovery Early Career Research Award project on youth online feminist cultures, funded by the Australian Research Council. She is also a Chief Investigator on an ARC project exploring how young people understand selfie-editing in an age of media saturation. Her work explores the affective politics of identity in everyday life, with a focus on gender and race in social media and popular culture.

Panellist: Closing Conversation: Feminist Not Fearless (Thursday 1 August at 4.30pm - 5.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Peter Lewis (He/him)

Peter Lewis is executive director of the progressive strategic communications agency Essential Media, the founder of the collaborative engagement platform Civility and a fellow with the Australia Institute’s Centre for Responsible Technology. For more than two decades he has worked with progressive organisations including unions, NGOs, not-for-profits and responsible businesses to affect progressive social change.  He is a regular columnist with Guardian Australian and Fairfax newspapers as well as the author of five books including Webtopia and The Public Square Project.

Panellist: META-morphosis: Navigating power and influence in a world of social media giants (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm, online only)

Ji Li (He/him)

Ji Li is a filmmaker, film critic, film curator based in Melbourne. His short documentary, Mandarin, won the honourable mention for Best Short Documentary at the Multicultural Film Festival in 2023. Ji is also a committee member at Melbourne Cinémathèthe and has published a film review ‘From Caligari to psychological horror’ at Senses of Cinema. He is the co-founder of the Chinese Independent Film Foundation (CIFF), an organisation aiming at promoting Chinese cinema and culture in Australia. His main responsibility is curating the monthly screening program, ‘Panorama of Chinese Film’, in Melbourne and Sydney.

Panellist: Festival Culture: From Passion to Programs (Thursday 1 August at 3.00pm - 4.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Professor Olivia Khoo (She/her)

Olivia Khoo is Professor and Head of Film and Screen Studies at Monash University. With Maura Edmond, Tamara Wilkinson, John Bevacqua, Andrew Moshirnia, and Carolyn Cage, she co-authored the research report, 'Incentivising Australian Screen Diversity: Proposal for a Diversity Tax Offset, Grant, or Minimum Industry Standards' (2024).

Moderator: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Ria Lodha (She/her)

A Strategic Marketing and Communications graduate from Monash University, Ria is a marketing specialist with over four years of expertise in B2B and B2C marketing, public relations, and communication across the APAC region. Known for her sharp business acumen, Ria has propelled brands in diverse industries to new heights, driving awareness, visibility, and engagement while skillfully navigating sales funnels. Her knack for delivering impactful marketing campaigns has consistently set her apart in the industry.

LinkedIn: Ria Lodha

Panellist: Alumni Unplugged - Career Conversations (Thursday 1 August at 11.30am - 1.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Paul Long (He/him)

Paul Long is Professor in Creative and Cultural Industries and Director, Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre (MMIC). He is currently leading a Discovery Project funded by the Australian Research Council entitled Mapping Australian Homemade, Amateur & Do-it-Yourself Cultural Economies that explores the overlooked practices between commercial and publicly funded creative production. He also leads in MMIC’s collaboration with the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia in its contribution to the development of a National Anti-Racism Framework by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Moderator: Game Changers: Representing Sport, Gender and Migration (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm,  ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Host: DIY ‘Zine Workshop (Thursday 1 August at 2.30pm - 4.30pm, Room S901 (Building S, Level 9, Caulfield Campus))

Liam Mannix (He/him)

Liam Mannix is a multi-award-winning national science reporter for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, and author of the best-selling science book BACK UP. He has just returned to Australia after being invited to spend five months at the Constructive Institute in Denmark studying constructive journalism.

Panellist: Coverage, critique and care: Constructive approaches to reporting, communication and creation (Thursday 1 August at 10.00am - 11.00am, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Justin McManus (He/him)

Justin McManus has been a photojournalist since 1996 when he started his career working for Messenger Newspapers in Adelaide. He has travelled extensively through Asia, Europe and South America photographing social documentary projects. While living in the UK his worked regularly featured in The Guardian, The Times, Sunday Times and The Independent.

Later he lived in Argentina and was a regular contributor to The Buenos Aires Herald, El Dario and The Guardian and The Independent in the UK. In 2006 he returned to Australia and began working for The Age newspaper in Melbourne. Outside of his newspaper work he continues to pursue his passion for reportage style photography and his interest in documenting the culture and socio-political issues of Aboriginal people. Justin is the recipient of many awards including World Press Photo in 2010, multiple Walkley awards including Nikon-Walkley Photographer of the Year in 2012.

Panellist:  Photography: Ethics, Inspiration and Challenges (Wednesday 31 July at 12.30pm - 1.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Amritha Mohan (She/her)

Amritha Mohan is a researcher, writer and journalist from Kerala, India. Currently, she is a PhD candidate at the School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, and her doctoral research investigates women’s experiences in sports and physical cultures in Kerala.  She has an extensive background in literature and journalism, and has published in various media outlets across India. Her key research interests include gender, embodiment, leisure, sport, and physical cultures.

LinkedIn: Amritha Mohan X: @AmrithaMohan

Panellist: Game Changers: Representing Sport, Gender and Migration (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm,  ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Tony Moore (He/him)

Tony Moore is a Professor in the School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University, where he heads up a major Australian Research Council project Comedy Country: Australian Performance Comedy as an Agent of Change and Conviction Politics: the Convict Routes of Australian Democracy. A former ABC documentary maker and book publisher, Tony is author of Fringe to Famous: Cultural Production in Australia After the Creative Industries (2024), Dancing with Empty Pockets: Australia’s Bohemians since 1860, Death or Liberty: Rebels and Radicals Transported to Australia 1788-1868, The Barry McKenzie Movies, and the forthcoming all of which engage with Australian comedy. Tony has served as Head, Communications and Media Studies, and Director of the Master of Communications and Media Studies.

Moderator: Student Showcase: Melbourne Music City (Wednesday 31 July at 3.30pm -  4.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Andrew Moshirnia (He/him)

Dr. Andrew Moshirnia is an Associate Professor at Monash University in the Department of Business Law & Taxation. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School and has a PhD from the University of Kansas. He has written on telecommunications law, misinformation, and the intersection of intellectual property rights and national security. He worked for several years at firms in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.

X: @AndrewMoshirnia

Panellist: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Cecilia Nguyen (She/her)

Cecilia is the director of AO Crew and has been with the group since they first formed in 2013 and is an active member of the Melbourne K-pop community. She occasionally teaches dance workshops, emcees at K-pop events, on top of performing and organising community events.

Instagram: @cecilia_nhttc Instagram (AO Crew): @aocrewofficial

Panellist: Opening Night - Rhythm of Change (Wednesday 31 July at 6.00pm - 7.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Gbonmisola (Gbonmi) Olubodun (He/him/They/them)

Gbonmisola Olubodun is a Nigerian writer, workshop facilitator and budding community organiser. He has five years of experience in the not-for-profit sector as a co-design consultant and youth worker. His academic background is in civil engineering, and he has been published in local arts magazines as a poet and writer.

Panellist: Closing Conversation: Feminist Not Fearless (Thursday 1 August at 4.30pm - 5.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Dr Julian O’Shea (He/him)

Dr Julian O'Shea is a designer, engineer and academic at Monash University within the School of Media, Film and Journalism. He's a video creator who has worked with ABC and as an independent creator, and host of the popular series Unknown Melbourne. His videos explore design, cities and interesting places. He has been named the Australian YouTube Breakout Creator of the Year and recently had a sell out season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

YouTube: Julian O’Shea  Instagram: @julianoshea  TikTok: @julianoshea

Panellist: Creator Corner: Mixing your professional and private life as a content creator (Wednesday 31 July at 11.00am - 12.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Vijay S Paul (He/him)

Vijay S Paul is a communications professional, blogger, business speaker & ex-entrepreneur, focused on helping organisations with their Strategic & Internal Communications, as well as Experience Design around websites, mobile applications, processes, multichannel communications & business environments. He also volunteers in various leadership roles with IEEE (the world's largest technology organisation) and currently represents Australia in various global humanitarian technology discussions.

LinkedIn: Vijay S Paul

Panel Session: Alumni Unplugged - Career Conversations (Thursday 1 August at 11.30am - 1.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Mike Ariel Plaza (They/them)

Mike is a government communications professional and educator from the Philippines, currently pursuing a master's degree to develop a project for the creative industry stakeholders in the Caraga Region. By immersing themself in Melbourne's rich creative spaces, Mike seeks inspiration to help local artists and creatives in Caraga recognise the cultural and economic value of their talents. Most of the time, you can find Mike exploring museums and exhibits, writing film reviews, or wandering through creative spaces, always on the lookout for new sources of inspiration.

LinkedIn: Mike Ariel Plaza Instagram: @mikekuwentoako TikTok: @mikekuwentoako

Moderator: Creator Corner: Mixing your professional and private life as a content creator (Wednesday 31 July at 11.00am - 12.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Ravi M Ravichandhira OAM (He/him)

Ravi M Ravichandhira OAM is a visionary leader and acclaimed mridangam artist who founded the Academy of Indian Music in Australia Inc 40 years ago. With a career spanning over 55 years, he has excelled as a performer, educator, curator and cultural ambassador, receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2012. Ravi has collaborated with legendary musicians like Zakir Hussain, established the Indian Performing Arts Convention (IPAC) Australia in 2021, and taught at prestigious universities and festivals, including Monash University and the Melbourne Trinity Heritage Festival, which he co-directs with his wife Narmatha OAM. His innovative fusion of Carnatic and western music has created a global phenomenon called ‘New Music’.

LinkedIn: Ravi M RavichandhiraFacebook: Narmatha Ravichandhira

Panellist: Festival Culture: From Passion to Programs (Thursday 1 August at 3.00pm - 4.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Mursal Sadat (She/her)

Mursal Sadat, a member of the Afghanistan Women's National Soccer Team, resettled in Australia during the 2021 evacuation. She has a diploma in graphic design from Afghanistan and began advocating early, delivering speeches for UNICEF at 15.

In Melbourne, Mursal completed the Community Advocacy Power Program with ASRC and participated in CMY's "A Seat at the Table" leadership program. She excelled at the Universal Youth Leadership Summit in Bangkok 2024, earning the Best Delegate award for her leadership. Mursal focuses on women's and refugees' rights in Australia and Afghanistan, using her personal experiences to advocate for oppressed women under the Taliban regime. She speaks with ASRC and CMY's ShoutOut program to amplify these issues. Alongside her advocacy, Mursal plays soccer for AWT Melbourne Victory and studies Sports and Business at SEDA Melbourne Victory.

LinkedIn: Mursal Sadat  Instagram: @mursal.sadat.47

Panellist: Game Changers: Representing Sport, Gender and Migration (Wednesday 31 July at 2.00pm - 3.00pm,  ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Jia Song (She/her)

Jia is a Senior Program Coordinator and a qualified Career Practitioner at Monash University. With a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration, she has overseas work experience in marketing and international trade before relocating to Melbourne. Jia confronted and overcame career changes, language barriers, and cultural adjustments, completing two courses in career development while working full-time. Now, Jia leverages her diverse experiences to guide students through their career journeys in one-on-one career consultations and group sessions. Passionate about employability development, she empowers students to navigate the complexities of the job market with confidence and essential career tools.

LinkedIn: Jia Song

Workshop Facilitator:  Building Your Professional Brand on LinkedIn (Wednesday 31 July at 12:30pm - 1:30pm, Room S901 (Building S, Level 9, Caulfield Campus))

Workshop Facilitator: Nailing the Interview (Thursday 1 August at 1.15pm - 2.15pm, Room S901 (Building S, Level 9, Caulfield Campus))

Penny Stephens (She/her)

Melbourne photographer Penny Stephens is deeply curious about other people’s lives. Pictures have become her way of understanding the world, seeing the human condition up close, and hopefully helping others to understand lives unlike their own. She’s been a finalist in the Moran Photographic Portrait prize and has won a United Nations media award for work in the Solomon Islands about climate change. She covered the Covid pandemic for Western Health.  She was embedded with the Australian Defence Forces in Afghanistan for The Age. She now does a mix of media for The Guardian Australia and The Age and SMH, corporate and personal work. Her first solo exhibition ROLLER DOOR; Moorabbin Makers At Work was shown in 2023.

Instagram: @bypennystephens

Panellist:  Photography: Ethics, Inspiration and Challenges (Wednesday 31 July at 12.30pm - 1.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Sunny (He/him)

Sunny is a freelance content creator with a deep passion for Melbourne cafes. He blends both art and videography to create engaging content for foodies, and is an advocate for promoting small businesses.

Instagram: @xundays TikTok: @xundays_

Panellist: Creator Corner: Mixing your professional and private life as a content creator (Wednesday 31 July at 11.00am - 12.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Darrian Traynor (He/him)

X:  @DarrianTraynor Instagram:  @darriantraynor

Moderator: Photography: Ethics, Inspiration and Challenges (Wednesday 31 July at 12.30pm - 1.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Caroline Yiqian Wang (She/her)

Caroline Yiqian Wang is a PhD candidate at the School of Film, Media and Journalism. Before joining Monash, she gained a BA in film and media studies and a MA in arts and cultural management. Her current project focuses on female representations in post-2010s Asian diasporic cinema. Her research interests include diasporic cinema (especially Asian immigrant films in North America), East Asian cinemas, and their intersection with gender studies.

Moderator: Festival Culture: From Passion to Programs (Thursday 1 August at 3.00pm - 4.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Niamh White (She/they)

Niamh White is a PhD candidate in the School of Media, Film, and Journalism at Monash University. Her thesis examines how young queer women and sapphic people are learning about and engaging with queer and trans history on social media. Broadly, their research interests include gender, sexuality, and youth; affect and embodiment within digital cultures, and queer and trans history and worldmaking. Niamh also works as a research assistant on an ARC Discovery Project investigating young people’s selfie-editing practices.

X: @niamhwhy

Moderator: Closing Conversation: Feminist Not Fearless (Thursday 1 August at 4.30pm - 5.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Dr Tamara Wilkinson (She/her)

Tamara Wilkinson is a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Monash University and author of multiple books on investment policy and government incentives (most recently Venture Capital Investment and Government Incentives: Law, Regulation, and Policy Design, Hart, 2024). Her other areas of research include capital raising, corporate structures and the taxation of investments. She is particularly interested in law reform and comparative analyses of these areas. Tamara teaches subjects including Private Investment Law, Corporations Law and Lawyer's Ethics into the undergraduate, postgraduate (JD) and masters programs at Monash Law.

LinkedIn: Tamara Wilkinson

Panellist: The Changing Face of Australian Film and Television (Thursday 1 August at 1.30pm - 3.00pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Aisha Wilson (She/her)

Aisha is a 21-year-old student and filmmaker based in Meanjin and Yugumbeh country, studying film at the Queensland University of Technology. Her current focus is on writing and producing, and she is passionate about telling stories centred around diaspora, mixing of cultures, and womens' voices.

Instagram: @aishawilson.mp4

Panellist: Closing Conversation: Feminist Not Fearless (Thursday 1 August at 4.30pm - 5.30pm, ‘The Pavillion’ (Building H, Level 8, Caulfield Campus))

Cora Zon (She/her)

Cora Zon is the co-host of ZINE on Yarra Valley FM 99.1, Australia's only community radio program dedicated to zines. Cora has facilitated zine-making workshops in libraries and schools, curated art zine exhibitions, and is organizing the inaugural Healesville Zine and Comic Festival.

Workshop Facilitator: DIY ‘Zine Workshop (Thursday 1 August at 2.30pm - 4.30pm, Room S901 (Building S, Level 9, Caulfield Campus))