World Philosophy Day is November 18th.
To celebrate this, New Acropolis Australia is hosting a panel presentation - 'Empowering real change: Leadership for a better world.'
This event is open to the public and you're invited to attend so you can be inspired by these everyday people who have become great leaders.
It can feel like our society lacks purpose and meaning, which leads to segregation between individuals in the world we live in. The outcomes of separatism can affect us all. But we can shift that by empowering individuals to develop self-confidence, for communities to promote commitment and contribute to the collective progress driven by happiness and prosperity.
It is abundantly clear that a fundamental change is needed. We need genuine and courageous leadership, inspired by the quest for truth, and leading by the ability to be an example. With a holistic approach to sustainable change in all of life's aspects, we can bring back meaning and hope.
Each of the panellists strives to make a better world through their tireless work in the fields of education, ecology, social and corporate responsibility, business, and more.
This event brings together highly regarded changemakers who will share their journey and insights of their life, business and community experiences.
The panel members:
Koky Saly was born in a temple, converted to a prison for pregnant women, where they kept his mother. When the war ended, his family escaped Cambodia and he sought asylum in Australia. In 2004, he graduated from the Media Arts Honours program at RMIT. In 2014, he completed a Masters of International Development Studies at RMIT.
Koky was awarded the Emma Hayne Memorial Award acquisitive prize for great potential in photographic art. He was named Student of the Year in the Experimental Category by the Victorian Institute of Professional Photography and short-listed for New Photo-Artist of the year by the Australian Centre for Photography.
He has built five schools in rural Cambodia, which is supported through his work with BabyTree Projects, a non-profit organisation he founded in 2007. In 2014, Koky launched Beekeeper (a fashion and accessory social business) through a crowdfunding campaign.
Koky believes in freedom and finds happiness from seeing beauty in the smallest things.
Mariam Issa, the co-founder of the not-for-profit organisation RAW (Resilient Aspiring Women). She supports women's resilience through intercultural dialogue and exchange facilitated by storytelling, cooking, and gardening.
Mariam is a speaker, storyteller, community builder, and the distinguished author of the book
A Resilient Life, which is a story of resilience in the face of hardship, showcasing the spirit of determination, optimism, and understanding of all that makes us human.
Mariam was awarded the Ambassador of Peace award from the Universal Peace Federation which recognises her ongoing work promoting social cohesion amongst Melbourne's culturally diverse population. She's participated in conferences and has been featured on National Australian TV, radio and more.
Ariel Druckman started his journey towards becoming a living philosopher in 2000 at New Acropolis, Israel. Since then, he has promoted philosophy as a way of life, a practical path to know oneself and the world around us.
He has been a practising Architect since 2005 after graduating in Architecture studies at Tel-Aviv University. He has recently completed a Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety at Swinburne University.
In 2014, Ariel became the National Director of New Acropolis Australia. He is motivated by empowering people to grow beyond their limits and meet their true selves.
Stacey Aslangul has a long and varied history of experience, having worked in a range of business, community and pastoral leadership roles. In 2020, she became the CEO at St Kilda Gatehouse, a not for profit that supports vulnerable women and girls involved in street sex work to prevent sexual exploitation.
Amongst many things, Stacey is curious about people and places, she loves being a mum, enjoys cooking and a good read and is currently learning to hula hoop.
Tickets are available by donation, which will support volunteer programs such as making culture more accessible, social initiatives that support development in deprived sectors of society, and the protection of nature.
You can find out more about New Acropolis
volunteering opportunities here.
Tickets are available
here.
