Episode 2: Julie Du Plessis in conversation with Kon Karapanagiotidis
Our Community Conversations series continues as Faculty of Arts Senior Development Manager Julie Du Plessis joins CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM to discuss identity, culture and the refugee story.
Kon founded the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre as a 28-year-old TAFE teacher when he discovered that people seeking asylum were living in the community with no basic support. Julie is a volunteer at the ASRC as well as a Faculty of Arts staff member.
About Julie Du Plessis
Julie Du Plessis is the Senior Development Manager in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne. Prior to joining the University of Melbourne, Julie worked in philanthropy for more than a decade where she supported organisations such as Vision Australia and Adoption UK.
Julie cares deeply about social injustice and inequality, and is an active volunteer within the Melbourne community, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
About Kon Karapanagiotidis
Kon Karapanagiotidis OAM is the CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Australia’s largest independent human rights organisation assisting thousands of refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.
Kon’s early experiences of growing up in a working class migrant family, living in small town country Victoria have shaped his life and his passion for human rights. He began volunteering early as an 18 year old at a homeless men’s shelter, acquired 6 degrees, became a lawyer, teacher and social worker and went on to found the ASRC as a 28 year old, 19 years ago.
Kon is widely recognised as a passionate humanitarian and has been the recipient of over two dozen awards, including an OAM. He has been a finalist for Australian of the Year and the Human Rights Medal. Kon also received the Arts Alumni Award for Leadership in 2019.
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