The ConFab with Michael G

Send us Fan Mail Megan Gilmour a social innovator wanted to create a world where all children are seen and heard.  In Australia, over 1.2 million children are at risk of missing school due to complex medical and mental health challenges. Megan has advocated for change in education systems for these vulnerable children.  She drew on her lived experience to co-found MissingSchool. The organisation d...

Send us Fan Mail Craig Foster AM is an Australian retired soccer player, human rights activist and sports analyst for a streaming service in Australia. Foster played soccer professionally including for the national team, the Socceroos.  He is also known for his human rights advocacies, and is a vocal critic of the Australian Government's treatment of asylum seekers. Craig works across a vast...

Send us Fan Mail Michael is currently Acting Head of Department Foundation Skills Pathways College Canberra Institute of Technology and has been part of WorldSkills since 2009 when he was asked to judge regionals in the ACT.  He has continued to be an  ACT Judge and has become a Mentor. He enjoyed the experience of being part of WorldSkills so much, that he became Team Leader for the 2014 and 2016...

Send us Fan Mail Tasneem is an experienced Cross Cultural Consultant and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) trainer helping business, not-for-profits and government understand and navigate diversity and inclusion.  As a media presenter, (on the DRUM) she has provided an expert perspective on topics related to diversity, gender based violence female and women of colour representation, soc...

Send us Fan Mail John has been a full-time writer since 2018. His work takes a uniquely fresh approach to the Cold War Spy Fiction genre in that his style is to craft stories around the personal struggles of spies during the Cold War rather their spying pursuits per se. he has been a full-time author since February 2017. John has written four novels Dublin Zoo, The Far Grass, Weather over Mendoza,...

Send us Fan Mail Tim Winton is an Australian author and has written over 30 books. His novels range from children's books, non-fiction, and short stories.  His work has been widely translated and adapted for film, television, stage and radio.  In 1997, he was named a Living Treasure by the National Trust of Australia and has won the Miles Franklin Award four times.  Join me on the ConFab with...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Julie Old is a wildlife biologist with a passion for conserving native wildlife, especially wombats.  Her observations of bare-nosed wombats suffering from sarcoptic mange led her to develop the Citizen Science project, WomSAT, a project aimed at supporting wombat conservation.  Through her academic position, and her position on the Board of the Wombat Foundation, Julie aims to...

Send us Fan Mail Duncan established Wiradjuri Echoes in 1998, since then the Wiradjuri Echoes have worked towards reconciliation and equality. He won the 2003 NAIDOC artist of the year award, Dare to Lead Education Award 2009, Friends of Education Award 2011, Ngunnawal Centre University of Canberra Award 2007, Senior Citizen Centre Award for sharing culture 2016 and in 2016, the Order of Australia...

Send us Fan Mail Nicole is a multi-award-winning author who shines a light on environmental, animal rights and social justice issues through captivating picture books. Her books engage readers and help to create a generation of thoughtful, committed and compassionate individuals. The themes in Nicole’s books have inspired school students and families to learn more about elephants used in tourism,...

Send us Fan Mail Amar is the President and Founder of charity organisation Turbans 4 Australia.  Since 2015, they have been providing assistance to Australians from all walks of life while also promoting multiculturalism and religious tolerance. Turbans 4 Australia has worked tirelessly to help hundreds of thousands of Australians in need.  They have assisted people facing all kinds of challenges,...

Send us Fan Mail Ann has had a successful career in the public and private sectors. Ann’s professional journey has been diverse.  She trained and worked as a Maths/Science Teacher joined a large food manufacturing company as a Quality Assurance Manager and Production Manager, supported her father in a small business venture and worked in Washington DC as a senior diplomat in the Australian Embassy...

Send us Fan Mail Malcolm Farr was a highly respected senior political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery covering the Parliament of Australia in Canberra, Australia. Based in Canberra, Malcom was the National Political Editor for News.com.au and contributing writer to The Punch. Most recently he is writing for The Guardian Australia to October 2022. Malcom has also regularly appeared on poli...

Send us Fan Mail John a Canberra confectioner who founded the experimental ice-creamery Frugii Dessert Laboratory, sadly passed away in 2021. John had long indulged in his hobby — creating unusually flavoured ice-creams and desserts — while selling them from his home, until he launched the business on Braddon's Lonsdale Street. John's creations came to be featured in international culina...

Send us Fan Mail Les Bistronomes Restaurant was founded in 2014 by two French men with a desire to extend Bistronomie to Canberra. It was originally located in the inner location of Braddon.  The bistro was relocated to the community suburb of Campbell in 2019 where Clément Chauvin has become the Sole Owner and Executive Chef. Clément has experienced working in 3 and 2 star Michelin restaurants in...

Send us Fan Mail Bernard Collaery is an Australian barrister, lawyer and former politician. Collaery was a member of the ACT first Legislative Assembly. He has served as Deputy Chief Minister and Attorney-General.  In 2018, he was charged with disclosing protected intelligence information. The case related to the Australia–East Timor spying scandal however In July 2022, the charges were waived by...

Send us Fan Mail Emily had previously been interested in depicting highly detailed portraits of Australian wildlife species, but now find herself inspired by the elements these animals leave behind such as bones, shells, feathers, and the plants of their environment.  Emily arranges these elements along with treasured ceramic and glassware vessels, as a modern Australian interpretation of the trad...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast was recorded in 2020 and is one of my earliest interviews.  Unfortunately, Pat's audio is not the greatest and reflects use of a speaker phone in Parliament House.  However, Pat's story, his perspective of reconciliation and truth telling as one of Australia outstanding first nation statesperson is highly regarded and will give you an insight to our first na...

Send us Fan Mail Adam is a Partner in one of Australia’s major consultancy firms in the area of Climate Change and Sustainability Services. His role is primarily related to addressing the challenges of sustainable development – how can the world sustain a decent standard of living for all current and future human beings in a way that doesn’t undermine the integrity and longevity of the biosphere ....

Send us Fan Mail Graeme is a lawyer, author, and company director. His autobiography Finding A Way achieved popular acclaim in 2016.  Graeme has led the merger of four blindness agencies to form Vision Australia, and chaired the board of that agency. He is also a Director of: The National Disability Insurance Agency; The State Insurance Regulatory Authority, regulating workers’ compensation and mo...

Send us Fan Mail Jioji Ravulo is the Professor and Chair of Social Work and Policy Studies in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work at The University of Sydney. His research, writing and areas of interest include mental health and wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, youth development, marginality and decoloniality. Jioji is involved in various community based research and co-design initia...

Send us Fan Mail Tonight, we are in conversation with Kaaron who is an Australian author of horror, science fiction, and fantasy short stories and novels.  Kaaron is the author of the short story collections Through Splintered Walls, The Grinding House, and Dead Sea Fruit. Her short stories have won Australian Shadows Awards, Ditmar Awards and Aurealis Awards Join me on the ConFab to gain an under...

Send us Fan Mail In 2019 while visiting England I spent some time contributing to community radio in Milton Keynes while touring the area we stopped off for a coffee at Twiggs Nurseries and coffee establishment in Buckingham as we were trying to find a decent coffee in the area.    Lloyd the owner and barista has selected the best beans available in the country, the best styles and brands of milk...

Send us Fan Mail While I was visiting Milton Keynes I spent some time on a community radio station where I meet Nina Castree.  During our initial meeting Nina told me that Across Milton Keynes , 1 in 4 children live in poverty, meaning that more than 16,000 children experience the affects of their household not having enough money, sometimes for basics such as school shoes, heating or food.  This...

Send us Fan Mail Canberra has a reputation for fantastic coffee, baristas, coffee roasters and a range of great cafes.  On any sunny day of the week you will find these cafes (the great ones) full, people enjoying the sun on the streets and if they really fantastic coffee high end bikes leaning up on a wall. One one of thees occasions (after a long cycle ride) I meet Isaac a barista and one of fin...

Send us Fan Mail Luka is actively involved with various volunteering organisations, including the Rainbow Ranters Toastmasters Club, and is a Justice of the Peace serving the LGBTIAQ+ community. Luka’s volunteer contributions have been recognised at the Volunteering Awards (Canberra Region), in which he has been awarded the Corporate Volunteer Award (2021) and the Inclusion Award (2020) and was Hi...