• Renowned journalist Professor Stan Grant Jnr to speak on rising authoritarianism and waning democracy at inaugural event hosted by Western NSW Branch of the Royal Society of NSW

Thanks to the support of Charles Sturt University the newest branch of the Royal Society of New South Wales is gearing up to host a public lecture exploring the topic of rising authoritarianism and waning democracy.

The inaugural lecture and event for the Society’s Western NSW Branch will be delivered by award-winning journalist and Charles Sturt University Chair of Australian Indigenous Belonging Professor Stan Grant Jnr (pictured, inset) on Tuesday 19 October at 1pm.

The Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley, AC, QC, as Patron of the Royal Society of New South Wales, will also make a special address to mark the occasion.

During the online lecture Professor Grant will call on his three decades of frontline reporting in Australia and around the globe to take the audience on a journey through the world of rising authoritarianism and waning democracy.

In his online lecture, ‘With the Falling of Dusk: The world is at a critical inflection point with rising authoritarianism and waning democracy’, he will explore questions of history and identity and argue the West may need to give up power to keep it.

Charles Sturt Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Provost, and Chair of the Western NSW Branch, Professor John Germov, said, “It is a privilege to have both Professor Grant and the Governor of NSW speak at our inaugural event.

“We established the Western NSW Branch to encourage and facilitate discussion, research and the exploration of knowledge across Western NSW and beyond.

“Our first event is truly representative of our purpose and I hope our attendees enjoy the thought-provoking subject matter and lively discussion at this event and the many others we plan to host.”

The online lecture, ‘With the Falling of Dusk: The world is at a critical inflection point with rising authoritarianism and waning democracy’, is open to the public. Registrations can be made online or to Ms Corinne Sheppard via csheppard@csu.edu.au.

The Western NSW Branch was inaugurated by the Royal Society of New South Wales President, Dr Susan Pond, on Tuesday 14 September.