Years 2010, 2012 Website Official website | Attendees 2,000+,4000+ | |
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Location(s) Melbourne Convention Centre, Victoria, Australia | ||
The Global Atheist Convention has been run twice in Melbourne, Australia, sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia and Atheist Alliance International. The first convention was held from 12 to 14 March 2010.
Contents
The Rise of Atheism 12 to 14 March 2010
Over 2,000 delegates attended, with all available tickets selling out more than five weeks prior to the event.
Presenters
Speakers included evolutionary biologist and bestselling author Richard Dawkins as well as Catherine Deveny, Phillip Adams, Taslima Nasrin, Peter Singer, PZ Myers, Dan Barker, Stuart Bechman, Sue-Ann Post, Kylie Sturgess, John Perkins, Tamas Pataki, Max Wallace, Russell Blackford, Ian Robinson, AC Grayling, Robyn Williams, Simon Taylor, NonStampCollector, Craig Reucassel and Julian Morrow. In addition, a panel of women chaired by Maggie Millar featured Lyn Allison, Tanya Levin, Leslie Cannold and Jane Caro (The Gruen Transfer).
A celebration of reason 13 to 15 April 2012
Over 4,000 delegates attended the three-day event. Apart from the speakers there were Christian and Muslim protesters of the event.
Presenters
Master of ceremonies; Kylie Sturgess and Lawrence Leung.
Speakers included; Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Peter Singer, PZ Myers, AC Grayling, Lawrence Krauss, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Catherine Deveny, Eugenie Scott, Leslie Cannold, Tanya Smith (AAI President), Jason Ball and Geoffrey Robertson Q.C. There was also a panel talk on the intersection of religion and politics; Derek Guille was moderator. The panel included speakers Dick Gross, Colleen Hartland, Marion Maddox and Fiona Patten.
There was a worldwide premier of the short film Parrot by Emma Mckenna and Craig Foster.
There was a dinner on the Saturday night with performances by Tom Ballard, Shelley Segal, Simon Taylor and Brian Dalton ( aka Mr. Deity).
On the final day there was another panel talk which had Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris.
A tribute to Christopher Hitchens was also done as he was originally booked for the event.