Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity growing in visibility and impact – 2022 wrap up
It has been another remarkable year for the Atlantic Fellows of Social Equity, returning to face-to-face engagement for the delivery of module intensives. The gatherings have helped deepen connections with eachother, our Indigenous cultural and thought leaders (known as Pou) and international guests who have helped us to identify challenges, create potential solutions, and think together strategically about Indigenous futures. The delivery of Module 5 focusing on Indigenous rights, sovereignty, and treaties in Aotearoa and Australia, delivered in partnership with the University of Auckland, was one of the highlights for Fellows this year.
2022 Fellows with AFSE staff and Pou at the end of their final module
In April 2022, Fellows from all three completed cohorts (2018, 2019 and 2021) came together for a Senior Fellow gathering on Wurundjeri Country. Participating in a range of activities, hosted at the University of Melbourne, enabled fellows to reconnect after some difficult years during the pandemic, and for some meeting for the first time.
Many of our global fellow community were also able to travel once again to participate in international gatherings and thought leadership exchange in collaboration with the Atlantic Institute. The largest gathering was held in Phuket, Thailand where three years’ of fellows from each of the programs were able to come together. At the same time, Senior staff, Advisory Board members and Pou attended the leadership forum marking the dissolution of the Atlantic Philanthropies Foundation.
Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity at the 2022 Global Convening in Thailand with Global Atlantic Fellows from across the international community
2022 saw the graduation ceremony of the AFSE 2021 cohort in August at the University of Melbourne – an exciting event enjoyed by all. In addition, six fellows from the 2018 and 2019 cohorts took the opportunity to upgrade their Graduate Certificate in Education to a Masters of Social Change Leadership. Four senior fellows will be graduating this December at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education ceremony.
AFSE has welcomed it’s fifth cohort in readiness for 2023 and we are excited about the diversity and high standard of applications we received this year, bringing the total number of changemakers from the Indigenous-led Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity to 88. (See more about our 2023 cohort here.)
The AFSE team has also grown with the addition of new staff members and increased its visibility by implementing new communications strategies, growing audiences and online reach. The appointment of Dr Fi Belcher, Research Fellow Impact and Evaluation, will also increase our capacity to tell the stories of impact of the program and Fellows going forward.
The construction of the new AFSE home is almost complete with the AFSE team moving into the new location early in the new year. The Lead Indigenous Architect for the project, from JCB, has designed a creative and welcoming fit out embodied with Indigenous ways of knowing and being, located in the new Student Precinct at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus. AFSE staff, visitors, Pou and Fellows will now have a purpose-built and culturally safe space to work, gather and collaborate. (Find out more about our new AFSE home here.)
I would like to thank the incredibly hardworking AFSE team, Pou, Fellows, board members and supporters that contribute to the ongoing success of the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity and wish you a very happy holiday season as we look towards working together for an exciting year in 2023.
Professor Elizabeth McKinley ONZM
Executive Director, Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity