The speakers

It has been a tradition for New Pentecost Forum to invite international speakers who are significant emerging thinkers or activists but who may not be well known in Australia. The 2007 international guest is Rev Dr Jojo Fung, a Malaysian Jesuit priest who ministers to Malaysia's Orang Asli indigenous people. He will be joined by three outstanding local guests.

Rev Dr Jojo Fung

Rev Dr Jojo M Fung, SJ is a Malaysian Jesuit priest from Sabah (British North Borneo), Malaysia. He is the director of the Ministry for Orang Asli (Indigenous Peoples), the Ministry for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue, and Campus Ministry in the Diocese of Melaka-Johore, Peninsula Malaysia. He is also the National Chaplain for Malaysia. He holds a Doctorate in Contextual Theology from the Association of Chicago Theological School, a degree in social anthropology from London University, and theology degrees. He has conducted research among the Orang Seletar, located in the Southern coast of Johore, Peninsular Malaysia and the Muruts in the southwestern part of Sabah since 1999. Rev Jojo's publications include Ripples on the Water (2004), Shoes-off: Barefoot we walk (1992), Rainbow of love (1992), Inner Whisper (1991),Yu-Tsin (1995) and Garing, the Legends. A decorated hero. A Renowned Shaman (2006).

Sr Susan Connelly

Sr Susan Connelly is a Sister of St Joseph, a Catholic religious congregation founded by Mary MacKillop. Her experience with the East Timorese people who endured 25 years of oppression motivated her to become involved with wider social justice issues. Her book of speeches Questions from the Asylum was published in 2002. Sr Connelly is the Assistant Director Mary MacKillop East Timor, an organisation fosters a range of educational opportunities for the advancement of East Timorese people.
Website: http://www.mmiets.org.au

Mr Tony Kevin

Tony Kevin, with 30 years experience in the public service, is the former Australian ambassador to Poland (1991-94) and Cambodia (1994-97). He has been an honorary Visiting Fellow at ANU Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies since 1998. Since 2002, Mr Kevin has assisted in the public investigation of the sinking of SIEVX, the unnamed boat on which 353 asylum-seekers lost thier lives south of Java in 2001. He was awarded the "International Whistleblower of the Year" in 2003 by the prestigious London-based NGO Index on Censorship for his SIEVX advocacy work. Tony is the author of the award-winning A Certain Maritime Incident (Scribe, 2004) recounting that history. His second book, Walking the Camino - a modern pilgrimage to Santiago ( Scribe), due for publication in July 2007, is a reflective account of an eight-week pilgrimage across Spain in 2006 and a personal meditation on religion and modern life. He is a member of the Canberra Branch of the Catholic Bishops' Advisory Committee on Migration and Refugee Issues.
Website: http://www.tonykevin.com

Mr Graeme Mundine

Graeme Mundine is a Bundjalung man from Northern NSW. He is the Executive Secretary of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Council (NATSIEC), a commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia. NATSIEC works with the Indigenous arms of member churches as well as on issues of Indigenous theology and justice for Indigenous Peoples. NATSIEC initiated the Make Indigenous Poverty History campaign which seeks to end Indigenous poverty in Australia. Mr Mundine is also a member of the NSW Catholic Education Commission, World Youth Day Aboriginal Committee and the World Council of Churches reference groups on Racism and Indigenous Peoples. He previously headed the Catholic National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC). He was co-author of the Catholic Church's response to Bringing them home, the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families.
Website: http://www.ncca.org.au/natsiec