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About the 2006 speakers

International speakers

Dr Edmund Chia (Malaysia)

Born in Malaysia he served for eight years as secretary of interreligious dialogue for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences. He is a professor specialising in Asian theologies and interfaith dialogue at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. His qualifications are: BA in Psychology (Lewis University), MA in Human Development (University of Maryland), MA in Religion (Catholic University of America) and PhD in Intercultural Theology (University of Nijmegen). Edmund is editor of Dialogue? Resource Manual for Catholics in Asia (2001) and author of Towards a Theology of Dialogue (2003).

Dr Gemma Tulud Cruz (Philippines)

Dr Gemma Cruz is a feminist theologian from the Philippines whose work focuses on liberation ethics in migration theology. In 2005 she won the Best Academic Essay Award to New Scholars granted by the Catholic Theological Society of America. Gemma is a regular contributor to the National Catholic Reporter's Global Perspective column. Gemma has an BA in Religious Education (St Columban, Philippines), MA in Religious Studies (Maryhill School of Theology, Philippines), and PhD in Intercultural Theology (University of Nijmegen). She joins the Theology faculty of St Ambrose University, Iowa, in August.

Australian speakers

Dr Paul Collins

Dr Paul Collins is an historian, broadcaster and writer. Catholic priest for thirty-three years, he has also worked in varying capacities in TV and radio with the ABC since 1986. He is the author of several books including Papal Power (1997) and Between the Rock and a Hard Place - Being Catholic Today (2004). His latest book on Benedict XVI is entitled God's New Man: The Election of Benedict XVI and the Legacy of John Paul II (2005).

Hind Kourouche

Hind is the founder of Combined Accounting Services Australia (CASA) which offers consulting services to business. Nominated for Australian of the Year Awards in 2004 and the Telstra Business Women of the Year Award 2001, Hind is the first female President of the Arabic Welfare Council in Sydney. She is the Director of the Islamic Resource Management Centre and was recently elected Vice-President for the Muslim Women's National Network . She is the founder of the Australasian Society for Islamic Professional Women. Her qualifications and memberships are: BEc (Macquarie), Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountant.

Rev Rod Pattenden

Rod Pattenden is a Uniting Church minister, chaplain at Macquarie University and an artist, art historian, and educational facilitator interested in the connection between spirituality and the arts. He has written and lectured widely on these aspects of the arts and creativity in Australia and overseas.