The annual national conference of the Australian Council For International Development (ACFID) will this year feature former General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation Sharan Burrow as a headline speaker. 

The conference, to be held 18-19 October in Sydney, marks a return to face-to-face meeting for the sector after three years of online events. The two-day conclave brings together members and delegates from across Australia to discuss all things aid, development and humanitarian.

This year the theme is Disrupted Dynamics, Inspired Ideas, and seeks to uncover startling, disruptive and innovative movements for the sector’s future directions. 

Burrow, who is a firm advocate for human and labour rights, climate action and Just Transition, will deliver the opening plenary address to delegates on the first day of the conference. 

Other keynote speakers include:  

• Dylan Mathews, CEO of Peace Direct, London (appearing virtually) – speaking on systems change and the state of civil society;
• Sara Sinada, Plan International Australia – speaking on the current political situation in Sudan; and
• Pius Sunday, The Leprosy Mission, Nigeria – speaking on systems change at a country level and influencing electoral reform in Nigeria for people with disability and leprosy;
• Bapon Fakhruddin, Green Climate Fund – speaking on harnessing climate finance for the Pacific,

Other guests and speakers of note include: 

• Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy (appearing virtually)
• Siale Ilolahia –Executive Director PIANGO, Fiji
• Emeritus Professor William Maley
• Flora Vano, ActionAid Vanuatu
• Maina Talia, Kioa Island Community Organisation, Tuvalu
• Vichi Gunawardena, World Vision, Afghanistan and South Sudan
• Michael McCormack, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific
• Rev Dr Cliff Bird – Attending from Fiji
• Jahin Tanvir – CEO of the Australian School of Entrepreneurship
• Najeeba Wazefadost  – Najeeba is the founder of three impactful refugee-led networks: the Global Refugee Led Network (GRN), the Global Independent Refugee Women Leaders (GIRWL), and the Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR).

Key highlights: 

Resolutions:  

ACFID Council will vote on resolutions that have been put up by individuals and/or organisations. In the past, resolutions have been passed on: locally-led and inclusive development (2022), for Australia to cease thermal coal exports (2019) and support of the Uluru Statement of the Heart (2017).  

Panel sessions:  

• Feminists fighting back! Disrupting the anti-gender movement and securing human rights for all;
• The role of technology in a strong and vibrant charity sector.

Other sessions and topics include: 

• Climate finance; Nature-Based Solutions; locally-led action; loss and damage; civil-military coordination across the Pacific; humanitarian aid in Afghanistan; youth and SDGs; and civil society resilience.

Awards:  

ACFID will announce the recipients of its three awards at the Conference Dinner on 18^th October: the Sir Ronald Wilson Human Rights Award, a Media Award, and Outstanding Contribution to the Sector. 

Full details can be found at the Conference Website.  

There are a limited number of press invitations for journalists who wish to attend. Please contact Aarti Betigeri to request one, at [email protected]. 

Location: The Roundhouse, UNSW, Randwick, Sydney 

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact [email protected] or call 0401 721 064.