Brisbane Conference December 7th-8th 2024

The Ayn Rand Institute is bringing to Brisbane a taste of the intellectual power and moral fire of The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, and Capitalism the Unknown Ideal.

And what a great weekend it will be: charismatic speakers, great conversations in beautiful spaces, and the chance to make invaluable connections!

If family responsibilities will prevent you from attending, perhaps it can be a mini break for your spouse or partner as well. Brisbane has beautiful riverside precincts well worth exploring. The city was a base for the war effort in the Pacific and has a museum honouring the heroic Douglas MacArthur. Other activities for those not attending the conference can be coordinated through the WhatsApp group set up for attendees.

If you’ve not yet read Ayn Rand’s non-fiction, you can sample it online at Ayn Rand Lexicon. I suggest you start with these topics: reason, selfishness, capitalism, environmentalism, tribalism, Immanuel Kant.

The conference is on the weekend of December 7th-8th with an opening reception on Friday the 6th. Also included in the conference price is a social event on the Saturday night: drinks and canapés at an outdoor riverside venue with a close view of the beautifully lit Story Bridge.

Speaking at the conference will be two of the Ayn Rand University faculty. Former finance professor and CEO of the Ayn Rand Institute, lecturer and podcaster Dr Yaron Brook is always energetic and brilliant at applying his vast knowledge to current events. He is the author of several books including Free Market Revolution, Equal is Unfair and Neoconservatism An Obituary. If you haven’t seen Yaron in action before, I suggest you watch his very useful Rules for Life. The other main speaker, former Marxist Dr Nikos Sotirakopoulos has written two books, The Rise of Lifestyle Activism: from New Left to Occupy and Identity Politics and Tribalism: the New Culture Wars. He can effectively illustrate how reading Ayn Rand can change one‘s mindset for the better.

At the two social events, during the ample breaks or at question time, you will have the opportunity to engage personally with Yaron and Nikos.

Here are six good reasons for attending:

1. Be inspired and informed by charismatic speakers with expertise on a wide range of topics. They will adjust their material to the level of understanding of the audience.

2. Take advantage of opportunities to meet the speakers and other successful Objectivists between talks and during the two socials. Seek personal advice or have your most perplexing questions answered!

3. Form invaluable friendships with other Objectivists, possibly from your own city.

4. Enjoy stimulating conversations and be spiritually recharged in the friendly and passionate atmosphere of being surrounded by like-minded people, allowing you to experience some of the best aspects of Galt’s Gulch outside the novel.

5. Air your suggestions as to how the Ayn Rand Centre Australia can bring about change to the whole country. In addition to running an essay contest, we are currently working on developing a structured system of personal advocacy to find many more young minds and keep them connected. So come along with your suggestions as to how we can best reach more students! We have engaged a highly recommended lawyer to help us obtain DGR status so donations are tax deductible - this appears likely to happen.

6. Connect with people at the conference who are just starting on their journey of understanding Ayn Rand‘s ideas and become their mentor as they integrate Objectivism into their lives. Help increase the number of people who can see the good, enjoy life and advocate for Objectivism!

The ARI has invested many thousands of dollars into the first event of its kind in Australia. I hope you can help make it the success it deserves to be.

The ticket price is US$500, or US$150 for students. This includes two social events and buffet lunches on Saturday and Sunday. There are scholarships available for those under 35.
You can register here.

Could you please let me know whether you’re planning to attend? If you're not attending, it would be helpful if you could say why (e.g., you have a prior commitment, or the ticket price is too high). If I’ve contacted you by text, you can reply to that.

I hope to hear from you soon, and see you in December!

Nigel Richards
nigel.richards@aynrandcentre.au