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Leading academics from The University of Western Australia will travel to Canberra to be among the 1000 delegates to the 2020 Summit on April 19 and 20.

The UWA academics (listed by discussion area), who will help Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the federal government to plan the nation's future, are:

A long-term national health strategy:

• Dr Fiona Wood , 2005 Australian of the Year, clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University's School of Surgery, and director of the Western Australian Burns Service.

Australia 's future security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world:

• Dr Gary Sigley , director of the University's Confucius Institute and senior lecturer in Asian Studies in the School of Social and Cultural Studies.  His focus is Asian languages, particularly Chinese, in the education system.
• Associate Professor Samina Yasmeen , director of the University's Centre for Muslim States and Societies, specialises in political and strategic developments in South Asia, the role of Islam in world politics and citizenship among immigrant women.

Options for the future of Indigenous Australians:

• Adele Cox , lecturer at the UWA Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health.  Her expertise includes self-determination for Indigenous people and in engaging Indigenous youth in policy and program development.
• Dr Christine Jeffries-Stokes, of the School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care and chief investigator of the Eastern Goldfields Renal Project.  She is prominent in the fields of rural medical education and Indigenous paediatrics.
• Professor Fiona Stanley , 2003 Australian of the Year and director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in UWA's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, is an epidemiologist noted for her research into the health of Indigenous populations.

Towards a creative Australia:

• Shelagh Magadza , artistic director of the Perth International Arts Festival.  She has been with the Festival since 2002.
• Professor Margaret Seares , Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UWA, has been a member of the Foreign Minister's Australian International Cultural Council and director of the Australia Business Arts Foundation.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said it was pleasing that so many of the University's fine minds were represented at the summit.

"I am sure their ideas and input will be greatly valued," Profession Robson said.  "As a University with a commitment to achieving international excellence, we are always keen to foster discussion which will ultimately benefit the whole community."

Media representatives who wish to contact the University's delegates during the summit should call UWA Public Affairs on (08) 6488 5563.

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563 /  (+61 4) 32 637 716