Sir Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre, Sandy Bay Campus, Dobson Road, Sandy Bay.
Summary:The 2023 Plimsoll Lecture by Australian economist, and political prisoner Dr Sean Turnell.
Presenter(s):
- Dr Sean Turnell, Former Economic Advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar
- Allison Watkins AO, Chancellor, University of Tasmania
- Professor Nicholas Farrelly, Head of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania
The 2023 Plimsoll Lecture by Australian economist, and political prisoner Professor Sean Turnell.
Even before Sean Turnell spent 650 days of wrongful imprisonment in Myanmar, his story was remarkable.
From humble working-class beginnings in the suburbs of Sydney, Sean followed his humanitarian heart and become a world-class expert on the Burmese economy, believing that the right economic policies could provide prosperity for its suffering people. It was this reputation and philosophy that led him to becoming the economic advisor of Myanmar’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
Three days after Suu Kyi was deposed in a military coup and arrested, Sean was placed in solitary confinement by armed military police under fabricated charges. During his long imprisonment in Myanmar, friends, fellow economists, institutions, and governments from around the world rallied together in a remarkable campaign for his release.
Join Professor Sean Turnell for the 2023 Plimsoll lecture, and listen to his extraordinary story of hope, resilience, and the power of friends. What unfolds in this conversation will be more than just personal reflections, but also deep insights into the dynamics of international relations, the role of civil society, and the power of unity in promoting democratic values worldwide.
You can join this free talk in-person, or online. To attend in-person, select your free tickets through Eventbrite. To attend online, register via Zoom , and we'll email you details on how to join the session.
Please join us for refreshments from 5.30pm. The talk will begin promptly at 6.00pm.
The Sir James Plimsoll Lecture is a prestigious annual event jointly presented by the University of Tasmania, the Australian Institute of International Affairs, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Named in honour of Sir James Plimsoll, a distinguished diplomat in Australia's history, the lecture series was established in 2005 to feature influential figures in the field of international relations, both from Australia and beyond.
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