From contributing to the Australian American Leadership Dialogue alongside senior political leaders to spearheading the inaugural Active Citizenship Convention with over 1,500 young participants, the Centre continues to drive meaningful conversations and practical engagement on the future of democracy.
Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD)
The 2025 AALD Forum, meeting for the first time in South Australia, welcomed to Adelaide more than 260 global leaders from Australia and the United States, demonstrating the continued significance of the Alliance at a time when our democracies and shared values are being tested.
The Jeff Bleich Centre was significantly involved in supporting this initiative, represented by Professor Rodrigo Praino across the three days. JBC Chairman Ambassador Jeff Bleich contributed important insights on a number of panels, including an insightful discussion with South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant.
As part of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD), the Jeff Bleich Centre held an exclusive dinner at the South Australian Parliament, gathering a distinguished group of national and international leaders to explore the evolving challenges facing democracy today around the topic Democracy Under Pressure: Renewal, Resilience, and the Role of Allies.
The evening featured a thought-provoking panel with Ambassador Jeff Bleich, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives the Hon Milton Dick MP, Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO, former Lord Mayor of Sydney and Michael Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and former Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Among the distinguished guests were several dignitaries, including three former heads of government: the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, 29th Prime Minister of Australia; the Hon Jay Weatherill, 45th Premier of South Australia; and the Hon Dominic Perrottet, 46th Premier of New South Wales.
The evening was a powerful reminder of the value of open dialogue, international cooperation, and the enduring strength of democratic principles. The 2025 AALD Forum reminded us that enduring relationships do not occur by chance. This robust Alliance can only be forged through meaningful dialogue and must remain firmly anchored in earned trust, shared values, and mutual understanding.
Inaugural Active Citizenship Convention
The Jeff Bleich Centre is proud to have played a major role in the inaugural Active Citizenship Convention, Our Voice, Our Impact.
An ambitious three-day event that brought together 1,500 Year 10 students from across South Australia to explore the foundations of democracy and civic participation.Inspired by the vision of Premier the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP and Governor Her Excellency the Hon Frances Adamson AC, the convention was delivered in partnership between the JBC and the Department for Education and provided students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with democratic principles, institutions, and leaders.
The program featured interactive workshops, keynote speeches, and panel discussions with prominent figures including the Minister for Education, Training and Skills the Hon Blair Boyer MP, former Premier the Hon Jay Weatherill, and Chief Executive of the Department of Education, Professor Martin Westwell. The event was a powerful demonstration of how civic education can empower the next generation.
We are especially proud of JBC Research Fellow Dr Nick Bordeleau, whose energy and insight earned him the unofficial title of “Democracy Legend” among attendees!
Presentation at the State Practitioner Network Investment Roundtable
Professor Rodrigo Praino was pleased to speak at the Economic Development Australia Limited SA State Practitioner Network Investment Roundtable “Shaping South Australia Investment Future” together with Chris Wood, Executive Director of Invest SA at the Department for Trade and Investment. It was a very interesting discussion about the future of our state and its place in the current geopolitical landscape.
We thank the EDA Team for organising the event, especially Selma Barlow, MBA, ACEcD and Laura Hodgson PhD, and Lisa O’Donoghue ACEcD for moderating the discussion!
From the Personal to the Political: Understanding the Impacts of Colonialism Through Storytelling
On September 5th, JBC Member, Professor Marinella Marmo, hosted an inspiring event which explored the enduring legacy of colonialism through personal experience and political reflection. The event was anchored in The Chosen Son, Professor Leanne Weber’s deeply moving account of the forced removal of her Aboriginal foster brother, Len, in the late 1950s and his subsequent placement in her Adelaide family.
Participants heard from expert panelists Professor Leanne Weber, Mrs Michelle Gissara and Dr Jared Thomas, providing a timely platform to critically examine how contemporary laws, policies, and practices, both at State and Federal levels, continue to shape the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Watch the full event recording here
Keynote at the Leaders Institute of South Australia
JBC Director Professor Rodrigo Praino delivered the keynote address at the Governor’s Leadership Foundation’s “Takes on Democracy” Winter event — an inspiring evening exploring the state of democracy in Australia and around the world. There was a timely and thought-provoking discussion on the challenges and possibilities for democratic renewal in South Australia and internationally.
Dr Intifar Chowdhury Selected for ABC Top 5 Media Residency
The ABC Top 5 program gives early-career researchers a two-week deep-dive inside ABC Radio National, working alongside producers and journalists to sharpen their storytelling for radio and online audiences.
Later this year, Dr Chowdhury will explore how content creators and influencers shape young people’s political engagement—and where they might be bridging or widening the gap between youth and politics.