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Dr Julian Droogan spoke on the topic of: The Role of Religion in International Relations.

He is the Senior Lecturer, Director of Learning and Teaching & International Security Studies Program. Editor, Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (JPICT) Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism - Macquarie University.

Dr Droogan argued that at a time of remarkable global instability, such a dialogue is timely and important. His presentation sought to unpack questions such as: What is the role of religion in addressing some of the current conflict and security challenges facing the world? Is religion a net positive or negative force in global affairs and peace building?

Adel Gaballa spoke about: The Role of Islam in Peace Building - Obstacles and Solutions to Peace Building in the Middle East.

Mr Gaballa is a former Senior Teaching Fellow in the Faculty of Economics and Politics at Monash University and is an expert in Sufism.  He spent 15 years in the Airlines and Aviation Industries, a Planning and Research Advisor for Qantas Airways in Airports Aircraft Ground Movements Control computer System.

Adel left the business life in 2011 to devote himself to the support of international interfaith dialogue, by spending over two years researching and writing a book about: “Mary and Jesus in Islam and Islamic Mystic Traditions (Sufism).He argued very convincingly that a true form of Islam is force for peace.

Fr. Dr Herman Roborgh’s topic was: Going Deeper into Inter-religious Dialogue

Dr. Roborgh worked for many years as a chaplain to students in Jakarta, Indonesia. He completed his MA in Islamic Studies at Birmingham University, England, and moved to Lahore in Pakistan where he rebuilt a library consisting of important Muslim and Christian source material.

Since receiving his PhD from Aligarh Muslim University in India, he has been active in various inter-religious dialogue projects in Australia. Dr Roborgh argued that interreligious dialogue will be more effective when we can move beyond an exchange of information about our different religious beliefs and practices.

Going deeper into dialogue requires the humility to keep reviewing our self-understanding and to overcome our fear.

Dr Yusuf Sheikh Omar spoke on:  Islam, Dialogue and Peace – (A Personal Perspective)

Dr. Omar did his doctoral research at La Trobe University, focusing on Somali youth and their experiences of integration, particularly within the USA and Australian context.

He spoke about the value of dialogue between different faith and cultural traditions using social and cultural negotiations.

John Bellavance spoke on: Dr Moons’ Proposal for an Interfaith Council at the United Nations and in Nation States.

John is the Vice-President of the Universal Peace Federation in Australia, an Information Technology teacher and currently doing a PhD on the Role of Values in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies. Mr. Bellavance presented the history behind the proposal for an Interfaith Council at the UN. He argued that the world is changing and demands on the United Nations and its role in world peace is also changing; emphasising that the wisdom of faith-based traditions constitute the spiritual assets for peace building nationally and internationally and this spiritual asset should be utilised by the UN to foster peace between nations.