04 May 2023
6pm - 7pm
Tracey Spicer will be in conversation with GIWL ANU Director Michelle Ryan about Tracey's new book Man-Made: How the bias of the past is being built into the future, in which the Walkley Award-winning journalist exposes the next frontier of feminism. Man-Made aims to open readers' eyes to a transformative technological shift in society and give them the tools to make positive change.
This event is in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop. Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.
About the book
'Mum, I want a robot slave.' Tracey Spicer had an epiphany when her young son uttered these six words. Suddenly, her life's work fighting inequality seemed futile. What's the point in agitating to change the present, if bigotry is being embedded into our futures? And so began a quest to uncover who was responsible and hold them to account. Who is the ultimate villain? Big Tech, whose titans refuse to spend money to fix the problem? The world's politicians, who lack the will to legislate? Or should we all be walking into a hall of mirrors and taking a good, hard look at ourselves...?
This is a deeply researched, illuminating and gripping ride into an uncertain future, culminating in a resounding call to action that will shake the tech sector to its foundations.
'Right now, a small group of predominantly young white men in Silicon Valley is programming our futures, with little input from the rest of us. This is one of the next frontiers of feminism.' Tracey Spicer.
'Exhilarating ... The book we need as we grapple with how AI will change our lives and our world.' Dame Quentin Bryce.
About the speakers
Tracey Spicer AM is a multiple Walkley Award winning author, journalist and broadcaster who has anchored national programs for ABC TV and radio, Network Ten and Sky News. The inaugural national convenor of Women in Media, Tracey was named in 2019 the NSW Premier's Woman of the Year, accepted the Sydney Peace Prize alongside Tarana Burke for the 'Me Too' movement, and won the national award for Excellence in Women's Leadership through Women & Leadership Australia.
Michelle Ryan is the inaugural Director of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL) and a Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at The Australian National University. Michelle recently held a European Research Council Consolidator Grant examining the way in which women's career choices are shaped and constrained by social and psychological forces
The vote of thanks will be given by the Virginia Haussegger AM, the former Chair and Founding Director of the 50/50 by 2030 Foundation at the University of Canberra, where she is an Adjunct Professor.
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