The Ann D Clark Lecture is an event hosted each year by Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta at which a prominent education thinker is invited to share their perspective on education on a contemporary world. This event is proudly sponsored by Teachers Mutual Bank.
This year’s Ann D Clark lecture will be held on Monday 12 August at the Evan Theatre, Penrith.
Presenter Fr Frank Brennan is a Jesuit priest and CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia. He is superior of the Jesuit community at Xavier House in Canberra.
He is professor at the P M Glynn Institute at the Australian Catholic University and research professor at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.
He chaired the National Human Rights Consultation for the Rudd Government and more recently has been a member of the Australian Government’s expert panel conducting the Religious Freedom Review.
His latest books are No Small Change: The Road to Recognition for Indigenous Australia, Amplifying That Still, Small Voice, The People’s Quest for Leadership in Church and State and The 2015 Gasson Lectures: Maintaining a Convinced and Pondered Trust.
An Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to Aboriginal Australians, particularly as an advocate in the areas of law, social justice and reconciliation, he was the recipient of the Migration Institute of Australia’s 2013 Distinguished Service to Immigration Award and of the 2015 Eureka Democracy Award in recognition of his endeavours which have contributed to strengthening democratic traditions in Australia. When launching Frank’s book Acting on Conscience on the place of religion in Australian politics and law, Kevin Rudd described Frank as “an ethical burr in the nation’s saddle”.
Earlier during the 1998 Wik debate, Paul Keating labelled him “the meddling priest”. The National Trust has classified him as a Living National Treasure.
Frank serves on the board of the National Apology Foundation and on the Advisory Council of the Global Foundation. His research interests include conscience and faith, human rights and the rule of law, and the rights of Indigenous peoples and asylum seekers.
Details of the event
Date: Monday 12 August 2019
Time: 5pm for 5.30pm lecture. The lecture will conclude at 7pm
Venue: Evan Theatre, Penrith Panthers, Mulgoa Road, Penrith
Tickets: This is a free but ticketed event. Please contact Christie Shaylor at events@parra.catholic.edu.au (phone 9840 5656) or you can order directly through the venue at tickets@panthers.com.au. Entry to the theatre, without a ticket, is not permitted by Panthers.