Praxis Discussion Series


The Praxis Discussion Series was established by the World Bank office in Sydney, Australia in order to provide a forum to discuss ideas, approaches, initiatives and policy pertinent to international development. Launched in January 2009 in partnership with Australian public affairs television channel A-PAC, the series aims to stimulate debate and promote the exchange of ideas. A one-hour panel-style program, the show is recorded throughout the year at the World Bank office.
Each session features three specialists on a select topic relating to international development. To coincide with the World Bank's work in the Pacific region, a World Bank representative is usually a part of the panel, joined by two other guest speakers providing different perspectives on the issue at hand.
Recognising a gap in the development conversation, Praxis opened its doors to one and all, allowing the general public to sit alongside representatives from Australian government departments, civil society and non-government organisations, and the private sector, as well as various academics and students, in order to tackle development issues from a variety of perspectives. With the deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals coming up in 2015, such discussions are becoming increasingly important. Interactivity is valued above all else, and every audience member has the opportunity to have their say and question the views of the panelists.
Discussions are also broadcast in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea, while the provides content online. Further, the involvement of the Global Development Learning Network has meant that audiences in Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea have been able to take part in discussions via video conference.

Past Discussions

TopicDateSpeakers
Women's Economic EmpowermentJuneAmy Luinstra, Senior Gender Specialist, International Finance Corporation; Joanne Crawford, Research and Policy Adviser, International Women's Development Agency and; Amanda Donigi, Founder of Stella Magazine in Papua New Guinea.
Labour Mobility in the PacificMayMai Malaulau, Labour Migration Specialist, World Bank; Luke Craven, University of Sydney and Ms. Kanasa, Ikale Contractors, an Australian employment company for the Australian Seasonal Worker Program.
Poverty and Hardship in the PacificMarchRex Horoi, Executive Director for the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International ; David Abbott, Economic Development Specialist; Truman Packard, Lead Economist, Human Development Sector, World Bank
Early Childhood Care and EducationJanuaryRaelyn Lolohea 'Esau, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education and Training in Tonga; Dr Sally Brinkman, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research; Mary-Ruth Mendel, Co-founder and Chairman of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation; Myrna Machuca-Sierra, Education Specialist, World Bank

TopicDateSpeakers
Extractive IndustriesFebruaryMichael Nest, Governance Specialist; Vivek Suri, World Bank; Colin Filer, Australian National University
Aid in a Changing WorldMarchAxel van Trotsenburg, World Bank; Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Margaret Reid OAM
Climate ChangeAprilRachel Kyte, World Bank; Kevin Hennessy, CSIRO; the Hon. Tessie Lambourne, Government of Kiribati
Communications and Technology for DevelopmentFriday 14 JuneGerard McCarthy from TechChange; Sarah Logan, Australian National University; Michael Bergmann, AusAID.
Conflict and TransitionsFriday 5 JulyTarcisius Kabutaulaka, University of Hawai’i; Joseph Foukona, Australian National University; Rebecca Bryant, AusAID; Professor Anthony Zwi, University of NSW.
Maternal and Reproductive HealthFriday 9 AugustDr Samson Baba, Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan, The Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann, President of Australian Council for International Development and Michele Rumsey, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development, UTS.
Youth EmploymentFriday 4 OctoberStephen Close, World Bank, Richard Curtain, Public Policy Consultant, and Dr Jioji Ravulo, University of Western Sydney.
InequalityThursday 14 NovemberLars Osberg, Dalhousie University, Canada; Michelle Rooney, ANU; Virginia Horscroft, World Bank; and Sameer Dossani, ActionAid.

TopicDateSpeakers
Aid EffectivenessThursday 4 AprilMatt Morris, the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University; Truman Packard, World Bank; Michael Carnahan, AusAID
Oceans and FisheriesFriday 4 MayMichael Harte, World Wildlife Fund; Charles Feinstein, World Bank; Kate Barclay, University of Technology Sydney
Education in a Changing WorldMonday 16 JulyYidan Wang, World Bank; Bernie Lovegrove, ASPBAE Australia; Jack Maebuta, Australian National University
Pacific FuturesFriday 10 AugustRalph Regenvanu, Member of Parliament in Vanuatu; Ferid Belhaj, World Bank; Rob Tranter, AusAID; Professor Biman Prasad, University of the South Pacific
UrbanisationFriday 12 OctoberMax Kep, Papua New Guinea's Office of Urbanisation; Professor John Connell University of Sydney; Truman Packard, World Bank; Simon Cramp, AusAID
Violence against WomenWednesday 24 OctoberLibby Lloyd AM; Merilyn Tahi, Vanuatu Women's Centre; Zoë Mander-Jones, AusAID; Carol Angir, Action Aid Australia
Non-Communicable DiseasesMonday 17 DecemberDr Jimmie Rodgers, Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Ian Anderson, Ian Anderson Economics; Dr Temo Waqanivalu, World Health Organization

TopicDateSpeakers
Development in the PacificThursday 24 MarchRob Jauncey, World Bank; Caleb Jarvis, Pacific Trade & Invest; Daniel Rowland, University of Sydney Law School
Maternal and Child HealthFriday 6 MayDr. Nicole Wong Doo, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Mahboba Rawi OAM, Mahboba's Promise; Dr. Nesrin Varol, University of Sydney
Food and AgricultureWednesday 8 June'Alopi Latukefu, AusAID; Jon Edwards, Action Aid Australia; Bill Pritchard, University of Sydney
Development and the Private SectorFriday 8 JulyDavid Shearer, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Eugenue Zhukov, Asian Development Bank; Gavin Murray, International Finance Corporation
Law and JusticeThursday 1 SeptemberFerid Belhaj, World Bank; Veronica L. Taylor, Australian National University; Ali Tuhanuku, Consultant with Solomon Islands' Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs
Gender Equality and DevelopmentThursday 6 OctoberGillian Brown, AusAID; Lulu Mitshabu, Caritas Australia and Julie McKay, UN Women Australia
Poverty and LivelihoodsThursday 10 NovemberMichal Rutkowski, World Bank; Patrick Vakaoti, Australian National University; Bharath Mohan, Care Australia; Virginia Horscroft, World Bank

TopicDateSpeakers
Natural DisastersTuesday 27 AprilChris Bennett, World Bank; Jon Burrough, AusAID; Amalia Fawcett, Plan International Australia
MicrofinanceThursday 27 MayGuy Winship, World Education Australia; Terry Reid, Asian Development Bank; John Conroy, Foundation for Development Cooperation
Women and DevelopmentThursday 17 JuneElizabeth Reid, development consultant; Gillian Brown, AusAID; Andrew Rowell, CARE Australia; and Robert Dunn, Opportunity International Australia
Food SecurityThursday 22 JulyArchie Law, ActionAid Australia; Nick Austin, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research; Denis Blight, Crawford Fund
HIV and AIDSTuesday 24 AugustRouena Getigan, ChildFund Australia; Bruce Parnell, Burnet Institute; Bill Bowtell, Lowy Institute
Climate ChangeWednesday 22 SeptemberNorman Gillespie, UNICEF Australia; Emilia Battaglini, World Bank; Martijn Wilder, Baker & McKenzie
Poverty and the Global Financial CrisisWednesday 20 OctoberJames Cox, World Vision Australia; Ross Buckley, University of NSW; Mark Thirlwell, Lowy Institute
Intervening in Conflict SettingsThursday 9 DecemberTerence Wesley-Smith and Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, University of Hawaii; Anne Brown, University of Queensland

TopicDateSpeakers
Migration and RemittancesWednesday 21 JanuaryManjula Luthria, World Bank; Nic Maclellan, Freelance journalist and researcher; Edward Wolfers, University of Wollongong; Mark Getchell, International Organization for Migration
Global Financial CrisisFriday 20 FebruaryVikram Nehru, World Bank; Mark Thirlwell, Lowy Institute; Tim Harcourt, Austrade
Climate ChangeMonday 23 MarchWanita Limpus, Kiribati Australia Association; Paul Gilding, Independent writer and advisor; Marianne Grosclaude, World Bank
EnergyTuesday 28 AprilDr. Mark Diesendorf, University of NSW; Jack Whelan, Foundation for Development Cooperation; Tendai Gregan, World Bank
EducationMonday 25 MayArchie Law, ActionAid Australia; Felicity Mitchell, teacher and former Australian Youth Ambassador; Barbra Daufanamae, student from Solomon Islands; Stephen Close, World Bank.
TechnologyMonday 29 JuneMargaret Duckett, Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific; Jonathan Greenacre, Clayton Utz and Step Safe; Greg Tucker, Payment Services Ltd. and Money Mover Systems.
GenderMonday 20 JulyThe Hon. Duncan Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs; Sarah Marland, Amnesty International; Sonali Bishop, International Finance Corporation.
HealthTuesday 25 AugustThe Hon. Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance; Tim Costello, World Vision Australia; Stephen Close, World Bank.
Development in Post-Conflict StatesMonday 21 SeptemberKanthan Shankar, World Bank; Mark McGillivray, AusAID; and Michael Smith, Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence.
Climate Change 2Monday 26 OctoberRobert Hill, Australian Carbon Trust and University of Sydney; Brian Dawson, AusAID; and Charles Feinstein, World Bank.
YouthMonday 16 NovemberCarolyn Hardy, UNICEF Australia; Joel Kalpram, ni-Vanuatu student; Fabia Shah, AusAID.