In the spirit of the late, great broadcaster and journalist, the Mark Colvin Conversation throws open a lively debate. The topic: Are schools and society...

The Inaugural Mark Colvin Conversation: Are Schools and Society Encouraging or Stifling Creativity?

Location:

2 Angel Pl
2000 NSW
Australia

Venue:
City Recital Hall

Featuring

Julia Zemiro

Host

French born-Australian, Julia Zemiro is an acting graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (1993).

Arguably best known as the host of the long-running SBS hit TV program RocKwiz,
Julia’s success continues in Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery for the ABC, now in its sixth series, which she also co-produces. Her co-hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest (2008-2016) for the SBS lead to an unprecedented success.

She has been host for international touring artists such as Stephen Fry, documentary-maker Louis Theroux, medical guru Michael Mosley – Australian Tour 2017. Julia was also the BBC UK choice for the exclusive Australian television interview with Peter Capaldi on his worldwide press tour for Dr Who. She also co-hosted Stargazing Live with Brian Cox for ABC/BBC this year.

Guest appearances include QI, Room 101, Agony Aunts, Thank God You’re Here, co-hosting What A Year with Bert Newton, and the title of Australia’s Brainiest TV Star.

She appeared in the award winning film An Accidental Soldier, directed by Rachel Ward and the acclaimed television series Conspiracy 365.

Julia also works as a corporate host and MC for a wide variety of charity and corporate events.

 

Robyn Ewing

Professor of Teacher Education and the Arts

Robyn Ewing AM is Professor of Teacher Education and the Arts. She teaches in the areas of curriculum, English and drama, language and early literacy development and works with both undergraduate and postgraduate pre-service and inservice teachers. Robyn is passionate about the Arts and education and the role quality arts experiences and processes can and should play in creative pedagogy and transforming the curriculum at all levels of education. In the areas of English, literacy and the arts, Robyn's research has particularly focused on the use of educational or process drama with authentic literary texts to develop students' imaginations and critical literacies. She has been published widely in this area. She has worked in partnership with Sydney Theatre Company on the teacher professional learning program 'School Drama' since 2009.The program aims to ensure primary teachers have the expertise and confidence to embed drama with literature to enhance students' creativities as well as English and literacy outcomes.

Her current research interests also include teacher education, especially the experiences of early-career teachers and the role of reflection in professional practice; mentoring; sustaining curriculum innovation; and evaluation, inquiry and case-based learning. She is particularly interested in innovative qualitative research methodologies including the role of the Arts in educational research.

Benjamin Law

Benjamin is a freelance journalist, columnist, TV screenwriter and the author. His work is regularly published in Good Weekend, The Monthly and frankie, and has appeared in over 50 publications in Australia and worldwide. As a full-time freelance writer, Benjamin has never had a proper full-time job with a salary, and splits up his time between writing, public speaking and (occasionally) teaching engagements. He also gets to work from home in his underwear.

 

lucy clark

The Guardian

Lucy Clark is a senior editor at Guardian Australia. She is a journalist and editor with 30 years experience in newspapers and magazines in Sydney, London, and New York. She is the author of Beautiful Failures - How the Quest for Success is Harming our Kids.

Megan Washington

Megan Washington

Megan Washington is one of Australia’s new icons of song. Originally performing jazz music and studying at The Queensland Conservatorium, her style evolved to indie pop and alternative rock where she sings and plays piano and guitar. In 2010, she released her debut album, ’I Believe You Liar’, on Universal Music / Mercury Records, which peaked at number three on the ARIA Albums Chart and by the end of that year was certified platinum, and saw Megan earn the Best Female Artist and Breakthrough Artist ARIA awards, and received five further nominations for work associated with her debut record.

Her 2011 follow up was the 8-track mini-album, Insomnia, which culminated in her first performance at the Sydney Opera House for a one-of-four showing of the darker and more introspective counterbalance to ‘I Believe You Liar’ (the other performances were in Paris, London, and New York City).

2014 saw Megan release her sophomore full-length record, ‘There There’, which debuted as an ARIA Top 5 album. The record was co-written with Sia/Adele collaborator, Sam Dixon, and recorded in the UK with the assistance of Stella Mozgawa (of Warpaint) on drums and Leo Abraham (of Roxy Music) on guitars. Appearances at Falls Festival, Splendour In The Grass and triple j’s Beat The Drum celebration followed.

Megan Washington has served as a mentor on The Voice Australia and inspired the world with her honest and personal story, ‘Why I Live In Mortal Dread Of Public Speaking’ via a captivating TEDx Talk in Sydney, Australia, which was also highlighted on the ABC’s Australian Story program, and has been viewed over 2 million times online.

The past 18-months has seen Megan set herself up in Los Angeles to write and record what will be her fourth studio album. Having collaborated with a slew of world class songwriters including Tim Levinson aka Urthboy, Max Hershenow (MS MR), Kyle Moorman (Lea Michele, Miley Cyrus) and Peter Thomas (Betty Who, Coin) the album is set to be produced by Eric J Dubowsky (Flume, Chet Faker) and will be released in 2018.

The new songs were majestically premiered in late 2017 with a national, sold-out concert hall tour with Australia’s Symphony Orchestras, culminating in 3 standing-ovation shows at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Event Details

In the spirit of the late, great broadcaster and journalist, the Mark Colvin Conversation throws open a lively debate. The topic: Are schools and society fostering or stifling imagination?

Mark was renowned for his unbridled curiosity and penetrating insight. He was a towering intellect with a great love for music. Mark’s award-winning career with the ABC spanned more than four decades including stints with Double J and Triple J. For the last 20 years of his life, he was the ‘voice of Australia’ as presenter of ABC Radio's current affairs program PM. It is fitting that the inaugural Mark Colvin Conversation brings together both critical thinkers and inspiring musos.

RocKwiz and Home Delivery host Julia Zemiro will deliberate on proceedings and keep things ticking so you’ll have time for questions. Songstress Megan Washington kicks off by sharing her story of overcoming anxiety and finding her voice through music. She might even treat us to a number or two.

Julia and Megan will be joined by a panel of educators, writers and commentators including Lucy Clark, Robyn Ewing and Benjamin Law.

Lucy Clark is a journalist and senior editor at The Guardian Australia. She is the author of Beautiful Failures - How the Quest for Success is Harming our Kids a book that challenges accepted wisdoms about schooling. Through personal experiences and journalistic investigation, Lucy calls on parents to re-evaluate childhood by examining their own expectations and questioning the purpose of education.

Benjamin Law is a screenwriter, journalist and newspaper columnist. He is the author of Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East and The Family Law, which spawned  the hit SBS TV series of the same name. Benjamin is a frequent contributor to The Age/Sydney Morning Herald Good Weekend, The Monthly, Frankie and a host of other publications here and overseas. His 2017 Quarterly Essay Moral Panic 101: Equality, Indifference and the Safe Schools Scandal looks at the new face of homophobia in Australia, and the long battle for equality and acceptance.

Robyn Ewing AM is Professor of Teacher Education and the Arts. She teaches in the areas of curriculum, English and drama, language and early literacy development and works with both undergraduate and postgraduate pre-service and inservice teachers.

Multi-talented performer and writer, Julia Zemiro, is well recognised as the host of the TV shows RocKwiz and Home Delivery. She is an outstanding actress and comedian, with a passion for music that saw her take EuroVision from cringe-fest to must-see TV.

Get ready for a dose of thought provoking and entertaining conversation, dished up just the way Mark would have liked it.

 

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