2026 Festival
Speaker Profile
Jon Faine
Jon Faine is a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne, affiliated with Melbourne Law School. A former ABC Radio Melbourne morning host for more than 20 years, he is a lawyer, broadcaster, author and sought-after keynote speaker. His book, Apollo & Thelma, blends memoir and history. Jon specialises in public policy, law and culture, and has led major media, conference and government projects, including Victoria’s acclaimed Covid Safe campaign.
How Do Royal Commissions Work? And How Do We Assess Their Impact?
Friday April 24
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club
9.00am
/
60 mins
Betty King, Jack Rush and Kate Wild with Jon Faine
As Australia prepares for the interim report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, our panel discuss the rules, responsibilities and outcomes of these important public inquiries.
Thrown In Jail For Doing Your Job
Friday April 24
Portsea Village
3.00pm
/
60 mins
Shokoofeh Azar, Kylie Moore-Gilbert and Cheng Lei with Jon Faine
Fault Lines: Journalism’s role in a fractured world
Sunday April 26
The Ballroom, The Continental
1.30pm
/
60 mins
Monica Attard, Jon Faine and Louise Milligan with Ranald Macdonald
Modern media is suffering a crisis of public trust and an increasingly diverse and fragmented market. Meanwhile, star journalists and commentators too often focus on the brand rather than the story. Yet good journalism still has immense capacity to scrutinise, reveal and hold institutions and individuals to account.