Festival of Ideas

T H E S TAT E L I B R A R Y O F W E S T E R N AU S T R A L I A
P R E S E N T S

FESTIVAL OF IDEAS

F R E E E V E N T

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WELCOME

Welcome to the State Library’s 6^thannual Disrupted Festival of Ideas. This year’s festival explores the theme of truth, a relevant and timely theme for libraries and communities throughout the world.

We are delighted to welcome to the 2019 festival Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Leigh Sales, Professor Geoﬀ Gallop, Professor Tracy Westerman, Bri Lee, and a host of local and interstate speakers.

Beyond this year’s theme, ideas are what the Disrupted Festival is all about. This festival is a concrete manifestation of your State Library’s commitment to the creation and sharing of ideas.
The State Library is a place of truth. We are visited by over one million people every year because we oﬀer free access to knowledge. We are committed to being a trusted source of information, connecting people to skills that help them critically evaluate information in an unregulated online world.
So please join us at the State Library, or if you can’t make it here, join us online via Facebook streaming, as we share and debate ideas about truth.
Trust is an essential ingredient of building social capital. Without trust our very democracy is weakened. Trust, however, has been the victim of the manipulation of the truth, and in turn public trust in many of our institutions – government and the media, in particular – have been undermined.

MARGARET ALLEN PSM

This year’s Disrupted speakers will examine the roots of this loss of trust. Through keynotes, panels and intimate conversations we invite you to join the debate on truth.

CONTENTS

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About the Festival Keynotes

6

Panels & Conversations

8

Activities and Other Disruptions Schedule Biographies

10 12 19

Venue Info and Registration

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DISRUPTED
FESTIVAL OF IDEAS

27 & 28 JULY 2019

The truth. Can it be subjective? Manipulated? Changed by opinion? And will it really set you free?
Meet scientists, journalists, writers, and professionals dedicated to truths that others deny as inconvenient. Discover how to harness your own truth, better understand your brain and spot fake news.
The very concept of truth – bent, adapted, and questioned throughout history – has found itself under siege in the social media era, where the loudest opinion can swamp even the staunchest fact.
Learn the fascinating history behind mis-truths, lies, and other forms of manipulation and how your library can be a powerful weapon in the ﬁght against truth distortion, bias and agenda.
Libraries throughout history have played a signiﬁcant role as the trusted keepers of history, truth and information. This year, the State Library of WA’s Disrupted Festival of Ideas takes on the truth, in all its forms.

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KEYNOTES

The Truth About Suicide Prevention

Adj Prof. Tracy Westerman Facilitator: Carol Innes

11am, Saturday, Discovery Lounge

Western Australian of the Year 2018, Professor Tracy Westerman has dedicated her career to promoting and educating in the area of Indigenous mental health. As the truth about suicide rates in Indigenous communities unfolds, Westerman urges us to see why optimism is critical to Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention.

Any Ordinary Day

Leigh Sales Facilitator: Meri Fatin

11am, Sunday, Discovery Lounge

What would you do if everything you believed to be true changed in a moment? The day a life turns upside down usually starts like any other. But what happens the day after that? Dual Walkley Award-winner Leigh Sales discusses her new book, Any Ordinary Day, which investigates how ordinary people endure the unthinkable and are forced to explore their own truth in the face of great adversity.

What is Truth?

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki Facilitator: Gillian O’Shaughnessy

4.45pm, Saturday, Discovery Lounge

Do mobile phones really cause cancer? Do vaccines cause Autism? Was the Great Fire of London started by a Catholic Frenchman? “Facts”like these have been disproved over and over and yet they remain. Fake news was in fashion well before emerging in contemporary politics. Join Dr Karl Kruszelnicki as he takes a deep historical dive to uncover the mis-truths that have inﬁltrated our everyday.

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PANELS & CONVERSATIONS

Fixing Truth – How Do Telling the Migrant

We Do It, and What’s

Story

James Jegasothy, Esther Onek, Mararo Wangai

Stopping Us?

In partnership with ABC Perth Focus Dr Glynn Greensmith, Prof. Geoﬀ Gallop, Rafeif Ismail, Narelda Jacobs
Facilitator: Shelagh Magadza

Facilitator: Jessica Strutt

Australia is a diverse country with a rich migrant history. Despite this, new arrivals who make their way here are still lumped into one category – refugees. This fascinating panel uncovers the inspirational truth about these migrants and where they come from.
What tangible actions could arrest the decline of truth in our democracy? Do we require new laws, new journalism models and new ways of thinking? What prevents these changes? Disrupted Festival oﬀers radical ideas for a radical time, but also addresses elemental prejudices and assumptions. What prevents us from ﬁxing the lies and misinformation that surround us? A panel of experts from across the spectrum of truth discuss this essential topic.

The Truth about Making a Living as a Writer

Morris Gleitzman, Juliet Rogers, Annabel Smith Facilitator: Rebecca Giblin

The Place for Truth in Our Court System

They say everyone has a book in them, but can everyone aﬀord to write it? Authors Annabel Smith, Juliet Rogers and Morris Gleitzman join Rebecca Giblin to pull back the curtain on the taboo topic of the economics of independent publishing and the realities of Australian author incomes.

Bri Lee & Linda Black

12.30pm, Saturday, Library Theatre

Two legal experts discuss frustrations within the Australian legal system and the fact that sometimes the truth can be lost beneath bureaucracy, red tape and archaic regulations.

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Navigating Away from
Speak Your Truth

Melissa Davey, Bri Lee, Leigh Sales Facilitator: Narelda Jacobs

Truth Decay

Margaret Allen, Prof. Nick Enﬁeld, Dr Julia Powles

12.15pm, Sunday, Discovery Lounge

Facilitator: Daniel Midgley

Recently, victims have been empowered to speak their truth and strive for justice through the #MeToo movement and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. There is power in being able to harness your truth to successfully fight for justice. This panel explores how some victims have found their voice and are finally being supported. But will they be believed?
Conspiracy theories, gaslighting, confirmation bias – all ways in which truth is subverted and facts are called into question. Join a panel of experts as they interrogate how exactly falsehoods are confused for facts, why people believe them, and how to counter it in yourself. Learn how the library, as one of the last trusted social institutions in contemporary society, can help you question assumptions, verify claims and seek out authoritative sources of information.

How Reliable is Our Memory?

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki & Prof. Alan Harvey

As the arbiter of truth, memory carries enormous weight: but is it reliable? Join Dr Karl and neuroscientist Prof. Alan Harvey for a one-on-one on how our memories work, the physiology of our brains and exactly why your memory can’t be trusted.

SPECIAL EVENT

Career Advice from Dr Karl

10.30am, Monday 29 July, Discovery Lounge

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

ﬁelds of science, technology, climate change, engineering and genetics. This session will open young people up to a world of opportunities and get them excited for their futures.

Facilitator: Lyn Beazley

Join everybody’s favourite doctor for some entertaining and educational career advice. Suitable for high-school students, Dr Karl will discuss the myriad options available in the

Bookings essential

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WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES

Disrupted Festival of Ideas provides plenty of other activities to ﬁll your weekend. The program brings the Library to life with bustling activity.

WORKSHOP

The Information War is Here — a Digital Literacy Workshop

by PEN Perth

1.45pm, Saturday, Library Theatre

Have you ever wondered how to identify signs of inauthenticity? Or the exact deﬁnition of a bot, a trending algorithm, or a Deepfake? What about a disinformation campaign and what does that have to do with freedom of expression?

WORKSHOP

If you are digital-literacy-curious, and want to explore these questions and more, join PEN Perth’s Kelly Fliedner as she wades into the inescapable and overwhelming fact

Epistemicide in the Western Art Canon

Gabby Loo and Steven Finch

2pm, Sunday, Studio 001

that our internet is awash with misinformation. This workshop will look at how we might spot ‘bad actors’and misinformation to better support responsible freedom of expression.
Epistemicide is the colonial act of killing knowledges. It is an act which suppresses and erases languages, forms of creative expression, and claims a single truth. This workshop for art appreciators and practicing artists explores Western art canon and their links to cultural destruction. State Library of WA’s Creative Fellows, Gabby Loo and Steven Finch, give voice to the many forms of alienation and personal identity struggle that occur for People of Colour when confronted by Western mono-cultural fantasies.

Bookings essential for all workshops Visit the website for details

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KIDS WORKSHOP

LEGO Stop-Motion Animation

9-12 years, 2 hours

10.30am Saturday and Sunday, Studio 001

Working collaboratively in small groups, participants workshop short story ideas and refine scripts for their animation production. Using LEGO kits, whiteboards and any other creative tools at their disposal, students build their own characters and set ready for filming. to film their movie, record voiceovers and produce their film to a final product. Every student will finish the day with a short film they have created to take home and show Mum and Dad!

With guidance from the expert Fire Tech tutors, and using iPads with the latest stop-motion tech, participants learn how

Bookings essential for all workshops Visit the website for details

AROUND THE LIBRARY

Discover fun and engaging activities throughout the Library across the weekend. From green screen magic to interactive explorations, there’s plenty for all ages to enjoy.

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F E S T I V A L P R O G R A M

S a t u r d a y 2 7 J u l y

DISCOVERY LOUNGE

11 am

Adj Prof. Tracy Westerman

The Truth about
Suicide

1.45 pm

PANEL

Telling the Migrant Story

4:45 pm

Dr Karl
Kruszelnicki AM

What is Truth?

12.15 pm

PANEL

Fixing Truth
3.15 pm

PANEL

The Truth about Making a Living as a Writer

Prevention

LIBR ARY THEATRE

STUDIO 001

1.45 pm

WORKSHOP

The Information War is Here
10.30 am

WORKSHOP

LEGO StopMotion

12.30 pm

CONVERSATION

The Place for
Truth in Our Court
System

Animation

WATCH IT LIVE

All events in the Discovery Lounge are livestreamed at

disrupted.slwa.wa.gov.au

and on Facebook

@disruptedfestival @statelibrarywa

All sessions in the Discovery Lounge and Library Theatre will be AUSLAN interpreted.

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S u n d a y 2 8 J u l y

DISCOVERY LOUNGE

11 am

Leigh Sales AM

Any Ordinary
Day

1.45 pm

PANEL

Navigating Away from Truth Decay
12.15 pm

PANEL

Speak Your
Truth
3.15 pm

CONVERSATION

How Reliable is Our Memory?

STUDIO 001

10.30 am

WORKSHOP

LEGO StopMotion
2.00 pm

WORKSHOP

Epistemicide in the Western Art Canon
Animation

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BIOGRAPHIES

MARGARET ALLEN PSM (WA)
MELISSA DAVEY (VIC)

CEO and State Librarian of the State Library of Western Australia, Margaret’s career has spanned public, special and State libraries as well as working in the IT industry. She was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2018 for outstanding service. She is a member of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Governing Board (2015 – 2017), an inaugural IFLA Leaders Associate, Member of the IFLA eLending Working Group, Chair of the Australian Libraries Copyright Committee, Board member of the Australian Digital Alliance, Past President of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and member of the ALIA Book Industry and eLending Advisory Group.
Guardian Australia’s Melbourne Bureau Chief, Melissa is currently writing a book on the trial of Cardinal George Pell. The Reckoning podcast, which she collaborates on with David Marr and Miles Martignoni, won two New York Festival awards. Her investigation into disgraced gynaecologist Emil Gayed triggered a government inquiry.

PROFESSOR NICK ENFIELD (NSW)

Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney and Head of the Sydney Initiative for Truth (SIFT), Nick’s research focuses on language and mind, the role of language in human social life, and how language helps us understand human diversity.

LINDA BLACK (WA)

Working as a criminal lawyer for well over 20 years Linda was former President of the Criminal Lawyers Association in WA and is now a Director of Murray Chambers. She worked for nearly a decade as a public prosecutor before moving to the Independent Bar to practice as a defence Counsel in criminal matters and both a prosecutor and defence lawyer in white collar and regulatory matters.

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PROFESSOR GEOFF GALLOP AC

(NSW)

MERI FATIN (WA)

Enjoying the mental acrobatics of talking with bright, creative and articulate people is Meri Fatin’s favourite past-time. Working as a freelance facilitator, her recent conversations have included Dr Michael Mosley, Stan Grant, Liane Moriarty, Chloe Hooper, Trent Dalton, Matthew Reilly, Markus Zusack, Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson… and Annabel Crabb.
Former member of the WA Legislative Assembly from 1986 to 2006 and the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006, Geoﬀ has been involved in educational, community and sporting associations over many years and was a Councillor at the City of Fremantle. He has been awarded a Commonwealth of Australia Centenary Medal (2001); elected a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (2003); admitted to the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by Murdoch University (2006); and was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Western Australia (2012). He was made a

Companion of the Order of Australia (2008)

and is currently Deputy Chair of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Council, Chair of the Australia Awards Board and Member of the International Education Advisory Council.

STEVEN FINCH (WA)

A community artist, Paper Mountain and Propel Youth Arts WA board member, Steven is Project Coordinator for the Community Arts Network and is currently a Creative Fellow at the State Library of WA.

REBECCA GIBLIN (VIC)
KELLY FLIEDNER

(WA)

An academic, ARC Future Fellow and insatiable reader, Rebecca’s research sits at the intersection of law and literary culture with a particular focus on libraries and authors. She is currently investigating how taking authors’interests seriously can ﬁx copyright by improving creators’incomes and simultaneously reclaiming lost culture.
Kelly is a Perth-based writer and curator who writes ﬁction and art criticism. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Western Australia in the School of Design where she also teaches and is on the Committee of Perth’s chapter of PEN International.

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MORRIS GLEITZMAN (VIC)
PROFESSOR ALAN HARVEY (WA)

A bestselling Australian children’s author,

Alan Harvey was educated at the University

Morris’books explore serious and sometimes of Cambridge and the Australian National confronting subjects in humourous and unexpected ways. His titles include Two

Weeks With The Queen, Grace, Doubting Thomas, Bumface, Give Peas A Chance, Extra Time, Loyal Creatures, Snot Chocolate and the series Once, Then, Now, After, Soon and Maybe.

University. He is an Emeritus Professor at UWA and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Perron Institute. In his laboratory research, Professor Harvey uses a variety of approaches to promote the repair of the injured central nervous system. He is also passionate about music, and his

well-received book Music, Evolution, and the

Harmony of Souls was recently published by Oxford University Press.

DR GLYNN GREENSMITH (WA)
CAROL INNES (WA)

Glynn has a degree in International Politics and a Masters in Journalism and is a former producer for the ABC. He currently lectures in broadcast journalism at Curtin University and is the presenter for Just Not Cricket on ABC Radio.
Carol is a cultural advocate working in government: a mentor, consultant, board director and project manager. She currently works for Landcorp as the Manager Aboriginal Cultural Heritage & Arts. Carol is also Co-Chair of Reconciliation WA, board member North Metropolitan Health Service and an advisory member to Kalamunda Arts Committee. She has worked in not-for-proﬁt organisations, arts and cultural organisations; State and Federal government agencies and Aboriginal controlled community organisations. Carol is a certiﬁed trainer and assessor, facilitator and advocate of community cultural development.

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JAMES JEGASOTHY (WA)
RAFEIF ISMAIL (WA)

A refugee and third culture youth of the Sudanese diaspora, Rafeif is an emerging multilingual writer. She was the winner of the 2017 Deborah Cass Prize for Writing, The 2018 Convocation of UWA Graduates Bryant Stokes Matilda Award for Cultural Excellence (Literature) and a ﬁnalist for the 2018 WA
James is currently the Director Community Engagement and Strategy at the Oﬃce of Multicultural Interests (OMI) and is the Vice Chair of the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD). He’s also a member of the Anglican Social Responsibilities Commission. Having come
Youth Awards, Cultural Endeavours category. to Australia as a refugee, James has worked Her work has been published by Margaret River Press, Black inc publishing, Fremantle Press, Mascara Literary Review, Kill Your Darlings, Meanjin and Djed Press. in both professional and volunteer capacities to support vulnerable newcomers. He has degrees in Law and Politics and has participated in scholarship programs in Austria and the United States.

DR KARL KRUSZELNICKI AM
NARELDA JACOBS

(WA)

(NSW)

The man with the answers when it
Presenter of Ten Eyewitness News Perth for

ten years, Narelda’s on air role has opened the door to many opportunities including working with charities and world leaders. comes to Science and Technology. As the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at Sydney University, Dr Karl spreads the word about science and its beneﬁts. With weekly Radio shows in Australia and in the UK on the BBC, regular television appearances, magazine articles and 43 (so far) published books, Dr Karl is constantly in demand by the media and for corporate appearances. Dr Karl has received many honours, including the Ig Nobel Prize awarded by Harvard University (2002); Australian Father of the Year (2003); and received a Member of the Order of Australia Award in the 2006 Australia Day Honours list.

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SHELAGH MAGADZA (WA)
BRI LEE (QLD/NSW)

After spending ten years at the Perth International Arts Festival, Shelagh became Artistic Director from 2006 - 2011. She has held the same role at the New Zealand International Arts Festival and has worked in arts governance, advisory and logistics and was commissioned to run the CHOGM Cultural Festival. She is currently the Executive Director of the Chamber of Arts & Culture WA.
Bri is a writer and editor whose work has