Speakers

Keynote Speakers

  • Andrew Root

    Andrew Root

    Author, Speaker, Professor

    I often go by Andy. I teach classes on a theology of ministry, youth ministry, and culture at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.  At Luther I’m the Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry and have been thinking and writing on issues surrounding the intersection of faith and our secular age.  I’ve written a number of books and have given lectures and presentations across the country and globe both to church groups, universities/colleges, youth workers, and academic communities.  I live in St. Paul, my wife Kara is a Presbyterian minister and we have two kids and a dog. When I’m not teaching and writing I watch a ton of TV.

  • Fa Matangi

    Fa Matangi

    Minister: Intergen and Multicultural Mission

    Fa Matangi is my name. I am a second generation Tongan Aussie who loves chocolate, pink, speaks broken Tongan and is a proud supporter of anything QLD (unless they lose then I just wave my flag quietly). I am currently the second minister at Auburn Parish. I have been tasked with overseeing the intergen and multicultural mission of Auburn Parish and within the community. I am also a first time mum to a fiesty strong 1 year old girl. My biggest flex is being able to identify and sit within different generations and cultures. My greatest challenge is working within those spaces of generation and culture. I am not altogether, I have broken pieces here and there but I am grateful that God calls us all just as we are; whole, broken, but precious!

  • Rick Dacey

    Rick Dacey

    Senior Minister, Wesley Mission

    Born and raised in Boston, I’ve been blessed to spend the past two decades in Sydney serving with the Uniting Church, first with the West Epping Uniting Church and, since 2012, as Senior Minister of Wesley Mission.


    It’s clear to me that God is up to something here, and I’ve chosen to make Australia home because I don’t want to miss out on the new extraordinary thing that God is stirring in and through the Uniting Church movement.

  • Robyn Whitaker

    Robyn Whitaker

    Biblical scholar, UCA minister, Public theologian

    I’m Robyn. I love dogs, baking, yoga, and Jesus. Ministry has taken me from Wangaratta, to Chicago, New York, and Melbourne. These days I teach New Testament at Pilgrim Theological College and lead The Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy in Melbourne. I write books about the Bible and talk about religion and politics on social media. I am passionate about the way we interpret the Bible ethically and how we use it in the public square. I live with my husband (an Anglican priest) and two golden retrievers.