The eConferences have attracted growing interest from communities across the world and this year’s event will be streamed live from 10.30am-2.45pm (AEST).
The 2017 eConference will feature an extraordinary line-up of prominent international and national speakers and panellists from politics, media and business, alongside well respected theologians and leaders of religious congregations from across Australia.
Among the speakers will be the former NSW Premier and Foreign Minister, Professor Bob Carr, the Editor at Large from The Australian, Mr Paul Kelly, and the President of Catholic Religious Australia, Sr Ruth Durick osu.
It will be an opportunity to reflect upon the hope offered by Pope Francis during the current era of socio-political change and uncertainty which has included the rise of fundamentalism, the growing violence and displacement of peoples in the Middle East and Britain’s historic vote to leave the European Union.
Prominent Australian business leader Ms Elizabeth Proust AO is also one of the speakers this year. “I am looking forward to a timely and spirited discussion at the eConference”, she said.
As Deputy Chairman of the Truth Justice and Healing Council, Ms Proust has been personally shocked by the extent of clergy abuse highlighted through the current Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
“And I believe Pope Francis offers us a tremendous role model of a humble, courageous servant leader who is not afraid to adopt difficult positions on some important social and moral issues of our time, from ecology through to corporate greed,” Ms Proust explained.
Through her work as Chairman of Nestlé and the Bank of Melbourne, Ms Proust has increasingly taken on a mentoring role to aspiring young business leaders in Australia, particularly young women.
“In the business arena too, I believe we can draw upon the example of Pope Francis and adopt a humbler approach to leadership that is perhaps less focused on multi-million dollar profits for shareholders and which genuinely addresses the growing gulf between the earnings of CEOs and their employees in some of our big corporations”, Ms Proust added.
Ms Proust believes the upcoming eConference is a timely opportunity for the Catholic Church in Australia to reflect upon the need for a fresh model of leadership for contemporary times.
Learn more about eConference or register for the Annual National eConference.
