The Australasian Catholic Press Association has revealed the speaker line-up for its 2025 conference, to be held in Canberra next month.
The year’s conference will be held on September 3-4 at the Pavilion on Northbourne, Canberra, with the theme “Messengers of Hope: Communicating the truth, beauty and goodness of our faith”.
ACPA President Jamie O’Brien said the theme calls on Catholic communications and media professionals to reflect deeply on their roles.
“Pope Francis’s message in this Jubilee Year reminds us of our mission to be authentic bearers of hope across our communities,” Mr O’Brien said.
Jacinta Collins, executive director of the National Catholic Education Commission, will deliver the keynote address on the first day of the conference.
Drawing on her experience in education and as a longstanding politician, Ms Collins will explore the theme in its entirety, looking at how Catholic communications and media professionals in Australia, New Zealand and the wider Pacific countries should be beacons of truth, beauty and goodness.
At the Awards Dinner on September 4, Br Peter Bray FSC, the Australian provincial of the De La Salle Brothers and the former vice chancellor of Bethlehem University, will share his unique perspectives drawn from years of leading education and faith-based initiatives in the Middle East, focusing on how hope can be nurtured even amidst complex socio-political challenges.
Adding an international perspective will be Gretchen Crowe, editor-in-chief of the influential United States publication Our Sunday Visitor.
Ms Crowe is a member of the Board of Directors for the US Catholic Media Association and will share her experience via video conference of working within the global Catholic communications and media space, with particular insight into navigating contemporary challenges with truth and clarity.
Other notable speakers will include: Missionaries of God’s Love founder Fr Ken Barker MGL; icon writer and artist Sue Orchison; and AI expert Tom Finnigan, who will explore the implications and opportunities of using AI in modern Catholic communications and media.
Entries for the annual ACPA Awards for all 2024-2025 financial members close today, as does the Early Bird Bookings for the conference.
Details: 2025 ACPA Awards and 2025 ACPA Conference.
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ACPA announces line up of distinguished speakers for 2025 Conference (ACPA)
