The third annual Wang Gungwu Lecture premieres on ABC Australia, ABC Asia and iview this March, featuring business leader Ms Ming Long AM as keynote speaker.
The first woman of Chinese heritage to lead an ASX200 company, Long is Chair of the Diversity Council Australia and on the boards of Telstra, IFM Investors, QBE Insurance (Auspac) and the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). She is also the winner of the inaugural 2023 Asian-Australian Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the lecture, Long shares her childhood experiences of feeling like an outsider after migrating from Malaysia to a small Australian country town. She reflects upon the impacts of Australia’s lack of racial literacy and how discrimination in the workplace and lack of trust towards Asian Australians can impede career progression.
Long says,
“We are at a time of great disruption, from climate change to AI. We cannot continue to operate the same way we have always done.”
“And we will need all the talent and diversity in our community to create the future we need, to create the future we want. We are stewards for our future and our legacy.”
ABC Head International Services Claire M. Gorman said the Wang Gungwu Lecture is a valuable platform to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Chinese Australians and discuss what it means to be Chinese Australian.
“The ABC is committed to reflecting contemporary Australia and sharing the stories and experiences of Australians from diverse backgrounds on our international platforms with Indo-Pacific audiences.”
“We are delighted to be in partnership with the National Foundation and DFAT for the lecture’s third year.”
The Wang Gungwu Lecture, named after eminent Chinese historian Professor Wang Gungwu AO, CBE, recognises the contributions of Chinese Australians to business, political, scientific and cultural industries. It was developed in partnership with ABC International, the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Previous lecturers have included Australian Children’s Laureate and author/illustrator, Ms Gabrielle Wang , and renowned pediatrician Dr. John Yu AC .
The 2024 Wang Gungwu Lecture will premiere on ABC Australia on Friday 1 March at 11pm AEDT, it will be available on demand on iview and ABC Asia from 11pm AEDT on Friday 1 March.
