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Jon Faine AM
PrintJon Faine AM has been at the forefront of public affairs in Australia throughout his thirty year ABC career.
Moderating live to air debates on every topic imaginable day after day over decades equips Jon Faine with the sharp mind and quick wit, as well as a broad knowledge of topics that marks him as a conference facilitator or speaker extraordinaire.
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Testimonials for Jon Faine AM
Jon was personable engaging professional and had the audience captivated. He made time prior to our event to call each panel member (5 in total) to personally connect and spoke to every attendee that approached him at the event. Thank you, Jon!
Wyndham City Council
We were delighted by Jon’s hosting - his journalistic prowess and keen curiosity ensured that the sessions were always interesting and informed. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Jon. The summit was a great success, in no small way due to Jon’s superb hosting.
Solutions Summit ATN Universities
Jon Faine was recently a moderator at our annual Neuroethics free public event, held at the State Library Victoria with an audience of around 270 people. Jon facilitated a rich discussion that was engaging and thought-provoking with our four expert panellists from the areas of digital health and privacy. Prior to the event, Jon worked with us to ensure the panel discussion would be entertaining and flow smoothly so that the audience would feel like they had attended a worthwhile event. I would not hesitate in recommending Jon as a speaker, moderator or MC. He is incredibly professional and will definitely add value to your event.
Communications Officer ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function
Monash University
Jon was terrific to work with, he followed our brief exactly and was an excellent MC for our staff conference.
BlueCross Community and Residential Services
Jon was highly professional in his role as MC and moderator at our research forum on the Signposts program. Jon handled the proceedings with great ease ensuring we were running on schedule, he lightened the mood with jokes and asked our panellists many thought-provoking questions about their experiences in the Signposts program. We thank Jon for his time and contribution to making the event such a success.
Parenting Research Centre
Fee Range: POA
Jon Faine AM's Biography
Jon Faine AM has been at the forefront of public affairs in Australia throughout his thirty year ABC career.
Moderating live to air debates on every topic imaginable day after day over decades equips Jon Faine with the sharp mind and quick wit, as well as a broad knowledge of topics that marks him as a conference facilitator or speaker extraordinaire.
Jon Faine is a Vice Chancellors Fellow at the University of Melbourne for 2022 and 2023, attached to The Melbourne Law School but with a roving commission across the entire university.
His book "Apollo & Thelma" is released on 1 April 2022. It tells the tall but true tale of The Mighty Apollo, legendary strongman and circus performer, 'the strongest man on earth', 'Champion of Champions' and a legendary show business figure. Apollo and his then underage sons inherited a remote outback pub from his sister, Thelma, who died suddenly in 1981. Thelma had been the solo publican at Top Springs in the NT for more than twenty years, earning a reputation as a formidable outback figure.
Jon was the families lawyer, and tells the remarkable tale of these two characters and their extraordinary lives. Along the way, we re-visit the struggle for indigenous land rights and the Gurindji walk-off as well as the role of iconic yarn-spinner Frank Hardy. Published by Hardie Grant, and with over 100 photos both colour and black and white, the story is part memoir and part history.
Until October 2019 Jon Faine was the host of the agenda-setting morning broadcast for ABC Radio in Melbourne for over twenty years. Before joining the ABC in 1989 to host ‘The Law Report’ on Radio National, Jon had practised for seven years in both commercial litigation and as a legal aid/human rights advocate. Countless conference presentations, panel moderations, MC duties, guest lectures and public events complement his legal and media career. Add to that a best selling travel book, several oral history publications, multiple opinion and commentary pieces for major newspapers, regular TV appearances and guest radio spots, as well as being script advisor for several films completes his diverse career.
For over thirty years, Jon has been in demand for conference keynote speeches, presentations, facilitation, and panel moderation. Specialising in complex matters of public policy, strategy, legal issues, technological challenge or cultural clashes, his work has covered every imaginable field.
Amidst the Covid pandemic, Jon has facilitated regular Zoom and Skype conferences sessions for business and universities as well as consulting to the superannuation industry lead body ISA. The wildly successful and acclaimed 'Covid Safe' ads for the Victorian Government Health Department, featuring Magda Szubanski, Matt Preston, Shane Jacobson and others were created, written and produced by Jon in three frantic weeks in the early stages of covid in 2020.
Jon Faine is a masterful story teller. Jon's knowledge bridges current affairs, politics, social change, law, justice, media, business, ethics - but with a humorous and light touch.
Seven years a lawyer - commercial law then Fitzroy Legal Service - means Jon Fane understands the worlds of both business and community. He’s hosted countless conference presentations, emceeing, facilitating private and public events, round tables, guests lectures, public speeches… Jon Faine can speak to any audience.
To enquire about Jon Faine contact Helene Greenham directly: helene@platinumspeakers.com.au
Speaking Topics Include
A look into the national soul - Whatever happened to ethics?
Australia is undergoing an ethical crisis. Why? How to fix it? Banks, insurers, clergy, Aged Care, politicians, lawyers… all under unprecedented scrutiny and not emerging in a good light. What do we do to restore the publics faith?
When the whole town burned … Who stepped forward?
Drawing on his extensive exposure to the Black Saturday fires, Jon Faine asks “is leadership instinctive or learned?” Who stepped up in the crisis? And what happens when a capital city has collective PTSD?
Who can you trust? Fake news and the legacy media
The 21st Century is becoming a real time experiment. Social patterns and human interaction will never be the same again. And why is Facebook just like the motor car?
Cheaper than a shrink
Mid career, Jon Faine took long service leave - a massive gamble and disappeared from the microphone for 6 months. He drove with his 18 year old son from Melbourne to London, along the Silk Road. What do you learn from over 30 countries as you drive some of the most rugged inaccessible and remote roads on the globe?
War stories - Thirty years behind an ABC microphone
Why did Tony Abbott wink at me? And which politician finished an interview saying “I hope I never have to talk to you again…” Who stormed out? Who sued and why? And which Hollywood star dropped the ‘c bomb’ live to air? Stories from celebrities, sports stars and the occasional outraged politician.
Peak lawyer?
Have we reached legal saturation? More law schools are churning out more lawyers, and court cases dominate the news, day after day. Why has the law become such a dominant factor in the life of the nation? And what comes next? Do we go down the US path? Or is there any alternative? Drawing on his extensive experience as both a practitioner and a commentator, Jon Faine guides you through the legal minefield.