Summit MC

Stan Grant, Journalist, Author, Moral Philosopher, Film Maker and Communicator

Stan Grant is a renowned journalist, author, moral philosopher, thinker, film maker and communicator. He has had a groundbreaking four-decade career as one of Australia’s most awarded journalists.

A Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharrawal man, Stan has blazed a trail for First Nations journalists. In a career of firsts, he was the first Indigenous Political Correspondent, the first Indigenous Foreign Correspondent, he was the first Indigenous person to present a prime time commercial television news and current affairs program. For a decade he was a senior correspondent for American news giant CNN based in Asia and the Middle East. He has reported from more than seventy countries and has lived in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong, and Beijing.

His list of awards include three time winner of Australia’s highest journalism honour the Walkley Award, four time winner of the prestigious Asia TV awards, an Australian TV Logie Award, twice winner of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts award (Australia’s academy awards), twice winner of the US Peabody Award, a recipient of the Columbia University DuPont award (the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize), a GQ Magazine Man of the Year award, Hawaii International Film Festival Indigenous Trailblazer award.

He was writer and producer of the acclaimed feature documentary “The Australian Dream” which told the story of the racial vilification of renowned Indigenous footballer Adam Goodes. The film was screened around the world and at last count has claimed more than twenty international film awards.

He continues to write for national and international news publications. In 2023 he was cast in a Hollywood feature film “Ricky Stannicky” Directed by Academy Award winning director, Pete Farrelly, appearing alongside stars William H Lacey, John Cena and Zac Efron.

Keynote Speakers

Esme Ward, Director, Manchester Museum, University of Manchester

Esme has worked in museums and heritage as an educator and cultural leader for over 25 years, including at the V&A, National Trust, the Whitworth and now, Manchester Museum. She has also worked across sectors, notably health and education. She is Professor of Heritage Futures at the University of Manchester and is a Fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme.

She led the £15 million capital transformation of Manchester Museum which reopened in February 2023, with the aim of renewing its creative and civic mission. She is currently leading work with others to develop practice and policy on repatriation, ecological stewardship and building an ethics of care in museums. She is Co-Chair of the University Museums Group and sits on the National Museum’s Directors’ Executive Council and on the Research England Advisory Group (REAG), Kew’s Wakehurst Advisory Committee and is a Trustee of Hope Valley Climate Action.

Katie Kiss, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

Katie Kiss commenced as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner on 3 April 2024.

Commissioner Kiss is a proud Kaanju and Birri/Widi woman who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland on the lands of the Darumbal People.

She was previously the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path to Treaty, and held senior positions in the Queensland Government, including Chief of Staff to the Minister for Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Senior Advisor to the Deputy Premier.

Commissioner Kiss also worked for eight years at the Australian Human Rights Commission, where she was the Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Team

Christina Snider-Ashtari, Tribal Affairs Secretary, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs

Christina Snider-Ashtari serves as Tribal Affairs Secretary to California Governor Gavin Newsom and leads the Governor’s Office of Tribal Affairs. As a member of the Cabinet, she oversees effective government-to-government consultation between the Governor’s Administration and California tribes; informs, develops and implements policy directives related to tribal governments and Native American communities; oversees the California Indian Heritage Center Task Force and the Tribal Nation Grant Fund Program; and leads the California Truth & Healing Council, an effort aimed at shifting the California narrative and providing historical restorative justice for the first people of California. Secretary Snider-Ashtari is Mihilikawna and Makahmo and an enrolled member of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians in Sonoma County, California.