Brisbane Event: Celebrating 40 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence
The Lowy Institute is pleased to invite you to a special event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence. In this landmark year for Papua New Guinea, the Lowy Institute is convening a panel of three of Papua New Guinea’s prominent emerging leaders to discuss the future of their country and the likely challenges that their generation will face. The panel will include Allan Bird, agribusiness expert and host of Tanim Graun – Papua New Guinea’s answer to Q&A; Serena Sumanop, Executive Director of The Voice Inc, a non-government organisation which fosters leadership skills amongst Papua New Guinea’s university students and Jeffry Feeger, a popular Papua New Guinean artist. Their discussion will be moderated by Sean Dorney, former long-serving ABC correspondent in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific and Lowy Institute Nonresident Fellow.
The discussion will be followed by a performance from iconic Papua New Guinean musician, George Telek. Telek is a band, a man and, in some parts of the world, a legend. Telek and bandmates David Bridie, Charles Maimarosia and Ben Hakalitz will help us celebrate the 40th anniversary of PNG Independence in style, performing songs spanning Telek’s illustrious career in music.
The event will be held at Brisbane‘s Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). The Queensland Art Gallery l Gallery of Modern Art will also host a major exhibition of the contemporary art of Papua New Guinea in 2016 - No 1 Neighbour: Art in Papua New Guinea 1966-2016. Please join us as we commemorate Australia’s long history of friendship with our nearest neighbour Papua New Guinea.
Please note arrival is 5.30pm for 6.00pm to 7.30pm (drinks and canapes will be served)
Jeffry Feeger is an independent visual/performance artist, philanthropist, and social activist. Jeffry has exhibited his artwork extensively and is recognized internationally for his live performance painting. His current collaborative community work aims to effect social change in Papua New Guinea by utilizing the creative arts to highlight issues of social and political concern.
Allan Bird has 20 years of agricultural experience in rural PNG, still known as the 'Vanilla King'. He is passionate about wealth creation in PNG, going from village to village teaching subsistence farmers how to grow, harvest and process vanilla for profit. Apart from his agricultural interests, Allan is a consultant, providing agribusiness advice to PNG Sustainable Development.
Serena Sumanop is the Founder and Executive Director of The Voice Inc., a youth development organization that runs programs in partnership with universities like UPNG. Serena works with The Voice Inc. to design and deliver educational programs and facilitate community projects that empower young people to give back to their communities.
Sean Dorney is a Nonresident Fellow at the Lowy Institute. After reporting on the Pacific (with a particular focus on Papua New Guinea) for over four decades, Sean left the ABC in August 2014. During his time with the ABC he won a Walkley for his coverage of the Aitape tsunami and was both deported and awarded an MBE by the Papua New Guinean Government.
