Violence in Society-a perspective from the faith communities: Moonee Valley Interfaith Network

The Moonee Valley Interfaith Network would like to invite you to:

Violence in Society: a perspective from the faith communities | Celebrating our Diversity

Guest speakers and presenters:

• Prof Sayed Khatab is an academic scholar at Monash University. His research interest includes politics in the Middle East, Islamic political thought, terrorism and counter terrorism related issues. He has published extensively among his recent publications Understanding Islamic Fundamentalism and Democracy in Islam. His democracy in Islam theory is considered as a 'challenge to Islamic extremists' and a significant contribution to the UNESCO program of intercultural relations.
• Very Rev. Denis Stanley Episcopal Vicar, of the Catholic Theological College, Chairperson of the Archdiocesan Ecumenical and Inter-faith Commission. He has been active in Archdiocesan and National Ecumenical initiatives, especially as a member of the executive at the National Council of Churches of Australia. He has a particular interest in ecumenical dialogue and is a member of the Australian Anglican-Roman Catholic Theological Dialogue. He has also been the facilitator for the "trialogue" between the Lutheran, Uniting and Anglican churches. Fr Denis is currently serving as the Senior Formator at Corpus Christi College, Carlton.
• Ms Natalie Peach is a Moonee Valley resident, currently in final stage of her doctorate degree in clinical psychology. Ms Peach’s main area of interest (clinically and research-wise) is in youth mental health. Ms Peach’s PhD is looking at the relationship between childhood trauma and early psychosis in young people. Ms Peach’s presentation would share perspective of the Baha'i Faith on the theme of the evening, while also drawing on her professional capacity.

Panel members will include:

• Ms Ruvini Leitan is a Legal Intern (Attorney-General’s Department, Refugee Representation). Ms Leitan is a recent Law graduate from Monash University with a strong commitment to social justice and community engagement. Ms Leitan spent five years of volunteering for UN Youth Australia, a grassroots organisation offering workshops, conferences and advocacy opportunities for young people, serving as Victorian and National President. Her experience also includes working with victims of violence and vulnerable communities; serving as a legal volunteer at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, and as an intern in the Refugee Protection Program at Human Rights First in New York.
• Dr. Bulent Hass Dellal, AO Founding-Executive of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, and Director and Deputy Chairman of the Special Broadcasting Service. Dr Dellal has had extensive experience throughout Australia and internationally on multicultural affairs and has spearheaded a number of initiatives for the benefit and development of the general community. He serves on a number of committees and boards and has prepared numerous reports, programs and conferences that deal in community relations, community capacity building, business, police relations, youth issues, access and equity, cultural and religious diversity, skill recognition, cross cultural training.

RSVP: 4 August 2015 to info@mvin.org.au