Fearless Conversations

Join our Fearless Network to be the first to view an important discussion on women who are challenging industry norms with purpose and passion to help break the bias.

Learn about the challenges these fearless women have overcome to help pave the way for other women to follow suit. 

Hear from Professor Maria Parappilly OAM, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics, Litsa Adamou, South Australia’s first female building inspector and Melinda Parent, Creative Director and Founder of an all-female led advertising agency, Oranje Creative, in this engaging conversation.

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Exploring the state of the arts in South Australia. Are we really the Festival State?

Our creative industries not only entertain and enlighten us, but they are also a major force in our state’s economy. So, how are they faring? We find out in Fearless Conversations Episode 12: Creative Industries.

How will the arts industry rebuild after Covid?
How do we bring our film industry back to the levels of its heydays?
Is it important that we create films and productions that tell our own Australian stories?
How critical is diversity in the arts and how do we evolve the arts for the future?
How do we make the arts an attractive career?

Facilitated by The Advertiser’s Patrick McDonald and Anna Vlach, join Garry Stewart, Professor in Creative Arts Flinders University and Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre, Douglas Gautier, CEO & Artistic Director Adelaide Festival Centre, Kate Croser, CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation and Heather Croall, CEO & Artistic Director Adelaide Fringe for a fearless look at the industry that inspires us and reflects who we are.

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Recorded Wednesday 10th November 10:30am (ACST)

How do we protect and support our health and care workforce?

In Fearless Conversations Episode 11: Health & Care we discuss a sector that is struggling with more than just the global pandemic.

Two-thirds of the aged care workforce is likely to leave in the next five years - how do we keep them?
How many mental health beds do we need?
How do we stop ambulance ramping?
Is enough being done in prevention and early intervention?
Should all our aged care facilities be not-for-profit?

Join The Advertiser’s Brad Crouch, with Flinders University’s Professor Alison Kitson, Vice President and Executive Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Professor Julie Ratcliffe, Health Economics and Matthew Flinders Fellow, with Jane Mussared, Chief Executive of COTA SA, and Lyn Dean, Chief Executive – Wellbeing SA as they explore questions that could change the way we look at health and care in South Australia.

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Recorded Wednesday 3rd November 10:30am (ACST)

“Can South Australia achieve net-zero by 2050?”

The Prime Minister’s 2050 net-zero plan has started many conversations across the country, but in Fearless Conversations Episode 10: Energy & Mining we take a deeper dive into a topic that affects us all.

How will changes to infrastructure, water needs and the workforce influence our decision making? Can we balance mining with agriculture? How will renewables and hydrogen power impact the future? Will space technology be a big disruptor? And can we rely on technology to keep pulling rabbits out of the hat?

Fearless Conversations Episode 10: Energy & Mining is facilitated by The Advertiser’s Chris Russell, with Mark Gregory, Vice President, Corporate and Chief Operating Officer, Flinders University, Rebecca Knol, Chief Executive Officer South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME), Kristin Raman, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), Adam Hammersley, Construction and Project Manager, SIMEC Energy Australia. Don’t miss a discussion that examines how we will embrace and impact our future.

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Recorded Wednesday 27th October 10:30am (ACST)

What are the opportunities for SA's innovation and enterprise sectors post-Covid?

In Fearless Conversations Episode 9: Innovation and Enterprise, we unpack the rapidly shifting landscape of business in 2021, bringing together some of our brightest minds to answer questions such as:

How do we create the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators?
How critical is social media success in today’s world, and how do you leverage it effectively?
How can research and industry work side by side to innovate?
What happens when things don’t go to plan, and how do you survive and thrive?

Hosted by The Advertiser’s Joe Tauriello, join Flinders University Professor Melissa de Zwart, Flinders student Eloise Hall, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Taboo Period Products, Tammy Barton, Founding Director of MyBudget, and Andrew Nunn, Co-Founder, Chairman & Executive Director of JBS&G Australia as they discuss the changing faces of innovation and enterprise in the modern world.

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Recorded Wednesday 20th October 10:30am (ACST)

What is the future of education in South Australia?

In Fearless Conversations Episode 8: Education, we shine a light on the future of our education sector. Ranging from local to international issues, our panel explores questions that affect our country, our state and our children, such as:

• When will we welcome back International students and why should we?
• Are Australian students falling behind the rest of the world?
• Are there jobs after uni?
• What is the future of the ATAR?
• Is the funding for public and private schools balanced?
• University mergers? Are they on the cards?

Professor Colin Stirling, President & Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University, Wendy Johnson, Principal of Glenunga International High School, and Karyn Kent, Chief Executive of StudyAdelaide, join The Advertiser’s Chris Russell for a truly fearless conversation.

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Recorded Wednesday 13th October 10:30am (ACST)

What role will South Australia play in our hi-tech future?

South Australia is rapidly becoming a hub for advanced manufacturing, but what opportunities does Industry 4.0 present for local manufacturing businesses?

In Fearless Conversations Episode 7: Advanced Manufacturing, we examine topics such as the intricacies of global supply chains, the roles of high-tech hubs like Lot 14 and the Tonsley Innovation District, the impact of the AUKUS announcement, and the reversal of the brain drain as we come to terms with South Australia’s role in the future of manufacturing.

Join The Advertiser’s Cameron England, with industry experts Professor John Spoehr, Flinders University, Sharon Wilson, Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Strategy Director, BAE Systems Australia, George Freney, Entrepreneur, Director, Advisor & Investor, Anthony Kittel, CEO REDARC Electronics and Audra McCarthy, CEO Defence Teaming Centre for a conversation vital to South Australia’s economic future.

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Recorded Wednesday 6th October 10:30am (ACST)

Can we stay on the road to net-zero emissions by 2050?

In Fearless Conversations Episode 6: Environment and Sustainability, we delve deep into topics that quite literally affect life on earth.

Can we stay on the road to net zero, and do people really understand the consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss? Do we have the political will to consider options like nuclear power? As we move towards zero emissions, does South Australia have effective sustainability strategies and environmental planning processes in place?

Join The Advertiser’s Clare Peddie, with Flinders University Professor Corey Bradshaw, Dr Ben Heard, Senior Consultant, Frazer-Nash, Kyra Reznikov, Head of the Environment and Planning practice, Finlaysons Lawyers and Laura Trotta, Senior Environmental Engineer, GHD in an eye-opening and fearless conversation.

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Recorded Wednesday 29th September 10:30am (ACST)

How can transport and infrastructure help us maintain Adelaide’s reputation as Australia’s most liveable city?

The economic future of our state and our reputation as a progressive, forward-thinking city depend on us having fearless conversations.

How do we link the South Eastern Freeway to the North/South corridor? Do we need to bring back transit-orientated developments? What are our regional infrastructure and road priorities? The $670 million riverbank arena? Should that money be spent elsewhere?

Join The Advertiser’s Matthew Abraham, with Flinders University Professor Rocco Zito, Daniel Gannon, SA Executive Director, Property Council of Australia, Karen Redman, Mayor of Gawler, Tony Braxton-Smith, CEO Department for Transport & Infrastructure, and Ann Ferguson OAM, Mayor of Mount Barker District Council for Fearless Conversations Episode 5: Transport and Infrastructure.

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Recorded Wednesday 22nd September 10:30am (ACST)

How do we kickstart South Australia's wine and tourism sector?

The changes and challenges brought about by the pandemic have impacted multiple industries, and South Australia’s wine and tourism sector has felt the effects from day one.

Episode 4 of Fearless Conversations: Wine and Tourism takes an in-depth look at the big issues facing the industry, from changing attitudes to local holidays and the cruise industry, through to the future of travel bubbles and the promising emerging markets for our wine industry in the wake of China-imposed tariffs.

Facilitated by The Advertiser senior journalist Brad Crouch, join Flinders University Professor Roberta Crouch, Andrew Kay, CEO Wirra Wirra Wines, Corrina Wright, Head Winemaker/CEO Oliver's Taranga Vineyards and Peter Williams, CEO Phil Hoffmann Travel, Fearless Conversations: Wine and Tourism examines an industry vital to our state.

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Recorded Wednesday 15th September 10:30am (ACST)