Online and Sandy Bay
Summary:This year’s Sir James Plimsoll Lecture will be presented by Julie-Ann Guivarra, Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Presenter(s):
- Julie-Ann Guivarra, Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Moderated by Dr Greg Lehman, Adjunct Professorial Fellow, Institute of Indigenous Knowledges, and Member of University Council
2026 Sir James Plimsoll Lecture
This year’s Sir James Plimsoll Lecture will be presented by Julie-Ann Guivarra, Australia’s first Indigenous woman to serve as an ambassador and now Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Drawing on her extensive diplomatic and leadership experience, Julie-Ann will reflect on Australia’s changing place in the world and the importance of trust, cultural understanding and diverse perspectives in strengthening our international relationships.
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.
Speakers
Julie-Ann Guivarra
Chief Executive Officer, National Indigenous Australians Agency
Julie-Ann is Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency and a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman. She has held senior roles across diplomacy and government, including as Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality and Ambassador to Spain, Andorra and Equatorial Guinea, becoming Australia’s first Indigenous woman to serve as an ambassador.
Adjunct Professorial Fellow, Institute of Indigenous Knowledges, and Member of University Council, University of Tasmania
Professor Greg Lehman is a well-known Tasmanian art historian, curator, poet, essayist and commentator on Indigenous identity and place, who is descended from the Trawulwuy people of north-east Tasmania. Greg is a member of the University Council at the University of Tasmania. His research spans Indigenous cultural values, land and fire management to representation of Indigenous people in colonial art.
Hosted by Professor Nicholas Farrelly
Pro Vice-Chancellor Arts & Society, University of Tasmania
Professor Farrelly is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Arts & Society at the University of Tasmania. He previously served as Head of Social Sciences, leading a multidisciplinary team across multiple campuses. With a distinguished academic background, including First Class Honours from ANU and a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford, Nicholas specialises in political and cultural issues in rapidly evolving Asian societies. He also collaborates with Australian government, industry, and community organisations. He currently serves on the Board of the Australia-ASEAN Council and is a Director of the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Parking:
Free parking, including accessible spaces, is available at the venue.
Pre-event refreshments:
Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.
Subscribe:
Find out about future events, and subscribe to our mailing list for Island of Ideas updates.
Find out more:
Want to learn more about the University of Tasmania's Island of Ideas public talks series? Catch-up on past events, register for upcoming talks or get in touch with us via our Island of Ideas webpage
