In conversation with Maria Thattil

Maria Thattil, one of Australia's boldest young voices, will be in conversation with Kim Rubenstein on Maria's new book Unbounded. Manifesting a life without limits.

Maria Thattil is a South-Asian Australian media personality, writer, speaker, founder of the Mind With Me podcast series and digital creator, who was propelled into the spotlight when she was crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2020 and established a media platform fiercely advocating for empowerment, inclusion and equality.

As a queer child of immigrants, Maria Thattil knows what it is like to struggle with belonging. In Unbounded, part inspiration, part memoir, Maria shares galvanising stories of what she has lived and learned through experiencing racism, sexism, financial hardship, intergenerational trauma, homophobia and mental health challenges. Through it all, Maria held onto hope and belief that her experiences could be turned into power.

Maria, who has dedicated her career to campaigning for change and representation, levers her degrees in psychology and management, and training in neurocoaching, to offer in Unbounded a path towards active growth, fearless self-love and liberation.

Maria Thattil writes for outlets including 9Honey, Stellar magazine, Body+Soul, Mamamia and Women's Agenda. She has headlined global campaigns championing LGBTQIA+ rights, inclusion and equality for brands including Olay, Clinique, Piper Heidseick and L'Oréal Paris. She has featured several times on Channel 7's The Morning Show, ABC's News Breakfast, Channel 9's The Today Show, Channel Ten's Studio 10 and Have You Been Paying Attention, She is a current panellist on Channel 9's Today Extra and Talking Honey, Maria's 2022 appearance on I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! made waves internationally when she came out as bisexual on-air.

Professor Kim Rubenstein - lawyer, academic, author, distinguished human rights advocate - is a champion of equal opportunity and active citizenship and Professor in the Faculty of Business, Government and Law at the University of Canberra. Kim, who was awarded the Edna Ryan award for Leadership in 2013 for "leading feminist changes in the public sphere", is Australia's leading expert on citizenship law, policy and practice.

The vote of thanks will be given by Professor Fiona Jenkins, the Convenor of the ANU Gender Institute and a Professor in the School of Philosophy at ANU.

This event is in association with Harry Hartog Bookshop. Books will be available for purchase on the evening in the Cultural Centre foyer. Pre-event book signings will be available from 5.30pm, and available again after the event.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Registration is required for this event.

• Accessible parking spaces are available around campus should you require them.

• To help keep everyone safe, please ensure that you are familiar with, and follow, the advice from ACT Health regarding COVID-19.

• If you do not feel well, please refrain from attending this event.

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• A podcast will be made available after the event.