IEEE Technology and Society Magazine - September 2017 - 19

brought out both humor and seriousness as some of the identified thorny issues. In response to
this we integrated the third panel
into the round-table conversations
themselves in order to promote
speaking with rather than speaking at.
The post-lunch session is usually a hard slog at any event, but I
have to say that Simon Longstaff's
Good Life session was one of the
most magically special I have ever
witnessed. Simon determined to utilize the fishbowl facilitation process
sitting the panel around the table
with two empty chairs for anyone
else to join. This format, which harnessed the collective trust in the
room, was underpinned by probing questions, challenging linkages
and open dialogue, and created a
calm, honest and egalitarian space
within which no permission was
needed order to speak. Testimony
to this was the fact that three of
our younger participants (all under
20) felt confident enough to move
to the table. I felt that there was a
degree of bravery in the observations shared, and that some of the
core issues - such as fear and love,
death and mortality, power and
inequality, nudging towards Transhumanism - were tabled. I know
that not everyone felt this, but I certainly did.
In the final session we sought
to somehow wrap up the two days,
but with the caveat that Brave Conversations was never meant to be a
one size fits all, nor a one off, nor
a simple solution. It wasn't about
giving me, or anyone else a to-do
list, or set of ideas to pursue. The
outcomes of Brave Conversations
were meant to be personal, something that each and every person in
the room - and the vast majority of the initial 87 part i c i p a n t s
were still with us at 5:00 p.m.
on Tuesday after noon - could,
SEPTEMBER 2017

and should, take and do with it as
the conversations she has been havthey pleased.
ing here to the United Nations Forum
Brave Conversations was a catawith a view to working with us and
lyst and, as Pia Waugh has so rightbegin developing the Ethical Framely said:
work for a new UN mechanism and
The only meaningful outcome
Private Sector Tech protocols for
from all of this is what you will do
human and tech rights. This is
different today.
no mean feat, and if anyone can do
■ What sort of future do you want?
it, Angie can. We will see what has
How can you build that into your
transpired when she returns, but
everyday life?
the conversations that we all had in
■ What changes do you need to
Canberra have helped identify and
make in your thinking, actions,
begin to describe ways in which we
career and personal life to make
can collaborate to address some of
that future a reality?
the huge issues that face humanity
■ How will you ensure you conas the result of information being
tinue to have brave conversacreated, managed, archived, and
tions into the future?
distributed in digital form.
So, what are the outcomes at this
Wendy Hall, Tris Lumley, and I
early stage?
have been talking about holding
Firstly, there have been a number
a Brave Conversations in both
of media interviews:
London and Washington partnering
1) Tim Shaw interviewed our Year
with the Web Science Trust and oth12 Tuggeranong College stuers. If we use Canberra as a pilot,
dent Matthew Torrens on Canthen there is much to learn from
berra 2cc.
what we did, but we have also cre2) Katina Michael spoke on 2UE
ated something that others can
Talking Lifestyle's "Talking Tech."
understand, and initiated a group of
3) ABC Lateline's Jeremy Fernanpeople who are keen and supportdez interviewed Wendy Hall.
ive to join the wave of conversations
4) Katina Michael was interviewhappening globally.
ed by Wendy Harmer
on ABC Radio 702.
We have been contacted by journalist Margot
O'Neill, who was unable
Some of the core issues - such
to get to the conference,
who may be interested in
as fear and love, death and mortality,
pursuing some of the ideas
power and inequality, nudging
that came up via a series
of programs.
towards Transhumanism -
For my own part the Intersticia Foundation and
were tabled.
t he E t h ic s C ent re have
now taken our first initiative by supporting Angie Abdilla to
Martin Stewart-Weeks has written
attend the 2017 United Nations Perup his own reflections (which also
manent Forum on Indigenous Issues
can be found in this issue of T&S
which coincides with the Tenth AnniMagazine) and in them has presentversary of the United Nations Declaed Web Science with a leadership
ration on the Rights of Indigenous
challenge, which I for one, am prePeoples. Angie's mission is to take
pared to step up to:
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