Listen to him at the Diversity Forum next month
Dame Susan Devoy – 
‘Future Focus’ is the theme of the ‘Diversity Forum’ scheduled to be held at the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), Wellington on September 1, 2016.
The Forum will begin with Powhiri at 830 am followed by speeches and presentations in Amokura from 930 am.
We have a dynamic range of speakers this year.
Our demographics have radically changed in less than a generation.
We live in one of the most ethnically diverse nations on the planet as well as one of the most peaceful.
But we have been tracking growing racial intolerance, overseas and closer to home.
Therefore, last year, we began to imagine what an ongoing, nationwide programme promoting positive race relations might look like.
What challenges do we see in our everyday lives? What kind of future do we want for Aotearoa? What can we do now to safeguard our race relations future?
Keynote Speaker
Keynote speaker Deng Thiak Adut is living proof that humanity can always triumph over inhumanity.
Kidnapped when he was six years old, Deng endured life as a child soldier in Sudan before being granted refugee status by the Australian Government at the age of 11.
When he was 15, he taught himself how to read.
By the time he was a young adult he was living in his car and putting himself through university.
Deng is now a leading Human Rights lawyer, advocate, mentor and community leader.
Dame Susan Devoy is Races Relations Commissioner of New Zealand. If you are interested in attending the Forum, please visit https://www.hrc.co.nz/your-rights/race-relations-and-diversity/race-relations/our-work/new-zealand-diversity-forum/
Photo Caption:
Deng Thiak Adut (Photo Courtesy: SBS/AAP)
