Melbourne, Australia
7-9 April, 2017
The Council of Australian Humanist Societies, together with the Humanist Society of Victoria present the Australian Humanist Convention 2017. The 52nd annual convention promises to be educational, motivational and fun for all delegates. Humanists from around Australia will gather to share their insights and listen to world renowned speakers including A.C. Grayling and Peter Singer.
Venue
Ibis Melbourne Hotel and Apartments
15-21 Therry Street, Melbourne Victoria
Ibis Melbourne is a short walk to the Queen Victoria Market, Carlton Gardens and the Melbourne Museum
Confirmed Speakers
A. C. Grayling
Humanism, the individual and society
A. C. Grayling is Master of the New College of the Humanities, UK. He has written and edited numerous works of philosophy and is the author of biographies of Descartes and William Hazlitt. He believes that philosophy should take an active, useful role in society. He has written and edited over 30 books on philosophy and other subjects; among his most recent are The Age of Genius, The Challenge of Things, The Good Book, Ideas That Matter, Liberty in the Age of Terror and To Set Prometheus Free.
In September 2016, Grayling spoke to an audience of 80 Humanists in Sydney and returns to speak to Australian Humanists in April 2017 in Melbourne.
Professor Graying will also be conducting an interactive workshop during the convention
Denise Applewhite
Peter Singer
Public Ethics in the Trump Era
In 2004, Peter Singer was named Australian Humanist of the Year in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of ethics. With uncompromising commitment to clear thinking and to secular democratic principles, he has developed reasoned, practical approaches to contemporary human problems.
Peter is a controversial figure for the positions that he holds on abortion, animal liberation and infanticide. Positions that stem from his embrace of utilitarianism, an ethical philosophy that holds that the best actions are those that maximise happiness and reduce suffering.
Any presentation by Peter Singer is guaranteed to leave you questioning your views and beliefs about the world.
Professor Singer will be appearing on Friday April 7 only
Clive Hamilton
Humanism and the Anthropocene
Clive Hamilton is an Australian author and public intellectual. Since 2008 he has been Professor of Public Ethics at Charles Sturt University in Canberra.
For 14 years, until February 2008, he was the Executive Director of The Australia Institute, a progressive think tank he founded. He holds an arts degree from the Australian National University and an economics degree from the University of Sydney. He completed a doctorate in the economics of development at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex.
In 2009 Clive was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to public debate and public policy. Later that year he was the Greens candidate in the by-election for the federal seat of Higgins. In 2012 he was appointed by the Federal Government to the Climate Change Authority.
Clive hamilton will be appearing on Friday April 7 only
Meredith Doig
Interbelief presentations in schools
Beginning as a mathematics teacher in government secondary schools, Meredith moved into the private sector as a corporate executive in manufacturing, mining and banking. For the last 15 years she’s been a professional company director on commercial, government and education boards.
One of Australia’s first Equal Opportunity officers, she later co-authored the Women’s Electoral Lobby’s policy paper on Affirmative Action. She has been a facilitator for the Australian Institute of Company Directors and for 10 years was a moderator with the Cranlana Programme on Ethics and the Good Society.
Currently president of the Rationalist Society of Australia, she was a Senate candidate for the Sex Party in the 2016 federal election. It was a natural progression in her activism around rational and evidence-based policy in governments
Monica Bini
World-views in the school curriculum
Monica Bini has been Curriculum Manager (Humanities) at the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority since 2006. In this capacity during 2016 she led the development of curriculum concerning learning about religions and non-religious worldviews in the Victorian Curriculum and is currently managing development of sample programs to support its implementation. Monica taught studies in areas of humanities and commerce in secondary schools for over a decade prior to joining the VCAA.
James Fodor
James Fodor is a graduate student in physics at the University of Melbourne, and a research assistant in structural biology at Monash University. With a keen interest in philosophy and critical thinking, he writes for the Rationalist magazine on various subjects in religion and epistemology. As president of the University of Melbourne Secular Society, he has engaged in numerous discussions and public debates concerning religion and rationality. He also has a keen interest in effective altruism, and aspires to commence a PhD in computational neuroscience in the near future.
Australian Humanist of the Year 2017 Gala Dinner
Each year, the Councli of Australian Humanist Societies awards the Australian Humanist of the Year to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to public life, consistent with Humanist principles and values.
The award is made at the annual gala dinner.
Dress code
It's a gala dinner, so it's your chance to dress up a little or a lot and enjoy an evening of celebration with Humanists from around Australia
What's included in my dinner ticket price?
A three course dinner with two complimentary drinks upon arrival
Tickets
 |
Humanist Society Member Concession* |
Humanist Society Member | General Concession* | General |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Convention Pass inc. Dinner | $215 | $215 | $275 | $315 |
| VIP Pass | $375 | |||
| 3 Day Convention Pass | $150 | $180 | $190 | $225 |
| Day 1: Friday April 7 from 6:30pm |
$50 | $60 | $65 | $75 |
| Day 2: Saturday April 8 from 9am |
$65 | $75 | $80 | $90 |
| Day 3: Sunday April 9 from 9am |
$55 | $65 | $70 | $80 |
| Humanist Member | General | |||
| Gala Dinner: Saturday April 8 from 6:30pm |
$99 | $120 | ||
| *Valid concessions include students, unwaged persons and persons in receipt of a government pension. If you don't qualify but are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out to us. | ||||
Accommodation
Hotel and Apartments
Ibis Melbourne are pleased to offer Australian Humanist Convention 2017 delegates 10% off the best available unrestricted rate at the time of your booking!
To take advantage of this offer you will need the following details:
| Company ID (client Code) |
SCP648218 |
|---|---|
| Access Code | CO376AU832 |
| Hotel Code | 1564 |
| The company ID and access code must be entered in capital letters | |
How to book
Online via: businesstravel.accorhotels.com
On your mobile via the AccorHotels app
By phone: (03) 9666 0000
F.A.Q
When is someone speaking at the convention?
As different speakers are confirmed and the convention schedule takes shape, those details will be made available here on the website at the end of their biographies.
What's included in my ticket?
All Friday tickets include the welcome cocktail reception with canapes and a complimentary drick on arrival before sitting down to listen to Peter Singer and Clive Hamilton.
All Saturday tickets include morning and afternoon tea as well as lunch and tea and coffee throughout the day
All Sunday tickets include morning tea as well as tea and coffee during the convention until the close at approximately 12:30pm
Is your question not answered here yet?
Email: convention2017@humanist.org.au
or ring: 0403 835 058
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