What happens when we break the silence around colonial history? How does acknowledging the past help us heal and connect across communities? And who carries the responsibility for truth-telling—First Nations peoples or non-Indigenous Australians?

Through deeply personal reflections and bold insights, Lorena Allam, Kate Grenville, Lindon Coombes, Mariko Smith, and moderator Robynne Quiggin unpack the emotional, political, and cultural dimensions of truth-telling. If you’ve ever wondered “Where do we begin?” or “Why does truth-telling matter now more than ever?”—this conversation is essential listening.

In this special panel hosted at UTS, moderator Robynne Quiggin is joined by:

Lorena Allam

A multiple Walkley Award–winning journalist descended from the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay peoples of northwest NSW. Lorena has had a distinguished career at the ABC and The Guardian, where she was the first Indigenous Affairs Editor. She is now a Professor at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. Her work has focused on truth-telling in media, Indigenous rights, and the legacy of colonialism in Australia 

Kate Grenville

One of Australia’s most acclaimed authors, Kate Grenville AO is best known for her historical novels including The Secret River, which explores the colonial frontier and its impact on First Nations peoples. Her work has won numerous awards including the Orange Prize and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. She has also written extensively on the writing process and Australia's colonial legacy 

Professor Lindon Coombes

A descendant of the Yuwaalaraay people, Lindon is the Director of the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. He has over 20 years of experience in Aboriginal affairs, including leadership roles in government and community organisations. His work focuses on Indigenous policy, justice, and self-determination

Dr Mariko Smith

A Yuin woman with Japanese heritage, Dr Smith is the Strategic Lead, First Nations at the Australian Museum. She is a curator, academic, and interdisciplinary researcher whose work centres on Indigenous cultural resurgence, museology, and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into creative and academic practice. She holds a PhD from the University of Sydney

Together, they share insights into how truth-telling can foster deeper understanding, connection, and a more just future for all Australians.

Recorded during National Reconciliation Week at UTS 4th June, 2025

Keywords: Reconciliation, Truth-telling, Aboriginal History, Indigenous Voices, Australia, UTS, Colonialism, First Nations, National Reconciliation Week

How can we envision trans futures? What does trans flourishing look like?

What are the radical challenges to trans and gender diverse rights?

And what are the joys, curiosities and possibilities of social justice focused research and truly inclusive futures?

After some decades of progress, western governments are now reversing or threatening to reverse the legal rights and recognition of trans and gender diverse people.

In this context, trans and gender diverse people are often called upon to debate their rights and access to care.

This event refocuses the lens, and brings together scholars and community members working on empowering trans communities to talk about:

• trans identities and decolonial solidarities
• queer futures in the Asia Pacific
• trans futures in the classroom, and
• the expansion of trans legal rights and medical care.

Woody (Louis Walker), drag artist and UTS staff member (Education Portfolio)

• Dr Madi Day, Lecturer, Centre for Critical Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University
• Sidhi Vhisatya, Masters candidate, artist and curator, School of Communication UTS
• Professor Anna Cody, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
• Dr Archie Thomas, UTS Chancellors Research Fellow, Social and Political Sciences
• Dr Sasha Bailey, Trans Health Research Group, University of Melbourne

This event is the Andrew Jakubowicz annual lecture.

Andrew Jakubowicz is an emeritus professor at UTS, and is one of Australia’s pre-eminent scholars of cultural diversity, multicultural communities, and racism. For over 30 years Andrew was Professor of Sociology at UTS. The UTS Andrew Jakubowicz lecture was established in 2018 in his honour. A major theme of each event is the responsibility academic researchers have in shaping public discussion of major societal issues of wide relevance.

This is a collaborative event hosted by:

• UTS Discipline of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Design & Society
• UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion
• UTS Trans and Gender Diverse Staff Reference Group

Please note: Madi Day's speech is not included, and you can hear them in the panel discussion. For further reading on Indigenous futures, read Everywhen: against 'the power of now' by Mykaela Saunders.

Woody (he/him) is the self-proclaimed rootinest tootinest cowboy in the Inner West! Woody is a strong advocate for Drag King visibility and inclusion, and is passionate about sharing trans joy and making space for play and whimsy alongside our fight for trans rights. He made his debut at The Underground in 2019 as a UTS student, and has been trotting on his hobby horse around NSW ever since.

Dr Archie Thomas is a non-Indigenous scholar and transgender man who has published widely on Indigenous and LGBTIQA+ movements, histories and policy issues in Australia, with a focus on educative institutions such as the schools and media. He is a Chancellor’s Research Fellow in Social and Political Sciences at

How did Australia's first family violence refuge come about?

How has the depoliticisation of the domestic violence movement affected outcomes for women and children?

While we now understand that domestic and family violence is more than physical violence, how do we continue to recognise and not turn away from the very real physical violence that Aboriginal women experience?

What would take to build services that both prevent and respond, that are not just nonviolent in the way that we construct them, but anti-patriarchal?

What are the opportunities right now to make change?

Ashlee Donohue: CEO of Mudgin-Gal Aboriginal Corporation, author, educator, and advocate for Domestic and Family Violence awareness

Jess Hill: Award-winning journalist, author of See What You Made Me Do, and Industry Professor, UTS Business School

Dr Anne Summers AO Professor of Domestic and Family Violence, UTS Business School

This episode has been lightly edited. Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios.