OUR STORY
TBD was founded in Brisbane in late 2019 by a group of friends concerned about the deterioration of public (and private) discussion. We also saw a need and opportunity to establish a truly independent public forum for discussion of big ideas and issues.
We are a wholly independent, neutral, intergenerational, all-volunteer, not-for-profit project to foster better discussions about big ideas and issues. We are determinedly non-partisan and non-aligned and aspire to being non-parochial and inclusive.
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Our mission is to demonstrate what better discussions look like, and help others turn one-way talks and one-sided panels into genuine dialogues.
Our flagship is the Big Dialogues series of public events: long-form, moderated dialogues between widely differing experts, on complex issues, with high production values, in a congenial environment to encourage guest involvement.
As an organisation, TBD consists entirely of a growing band of part-time volunteers who share the belief that civil discourse is essential to democracy and a healthy society. Many others provide valuable moral, marketing, networking, financial, on-the-day, partnership or other support.
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Operations are overseen by a management committee representing the members of the not-for-profit association, The Brisbane Dialogues Inc.
President - Simon Bowler
Vice-president - Murray Hancock
Treasurer - Andrew Parkinson
Secretary - Jackie Poetzscher