On Sorry Day 2026 there is much to discuss, including the recent booing of Pastor Ray Minniecon's Welcome to Country on ANZAC Day. Ray joins our panel of esteemed Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian South Sea Islander women moderated by former StandUp CEO Courtney Winter-Peters for a frank conversation about saying sorry. This event is run in partnership with StandUp.

Paula-Rose Bassett is a proud Wiradjuri and Wakka Wakka woman, Lawyer, and Social Worker passionate about justice, advocacy, and strengthening outcomes for First Nations communities. With experience across law, social work, and community leadership, she is committed to advancing conversations around truth-telling, equity, and culturally safe systems. Her work is grounded in cultural connection, advocacy, and creating pathways for stronger futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Waskam Emelda Davis made history as the first Black woman elected to the City of Sydney Council (2021-2024). As a second-generation Australian South Sea Islander of diverse Indigenous ancestry, Emelda is a founder of the Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) and advocates for social justice and equity across communities. She advocates for recognition of the descendants of Australia's blackbirding trade and wrote 'Children of the Sugar Slaves – Black and Resilient.’ In 2020, she became the first ASSI to complete an oral history thesis on the experiences of Blackbirded communities in Northern Rivers, NSW, and QLD. Her advocacy has engaged local, state, and international bodies, including the United Nations.

Ray Minniecon is an Aboriginal pastor with roots in the Kabikabi and Gurang-Gurang tribes of Queensland. He lives in Sydney and has dedicated his life to supporting members of the Stolen Generations of Aboriginals. The term “Stolen Generations” refers to the tens of thousands of Aboriginal children who, from the late 1800s until the 1970s, were forcibly removed from their families by government agencies and church missions in an attempt to assimilate them into the culture of white Australia.

Courtney Winter-Peters is the former CEO and current Board member of Stand Up. Under her leadership, Stand Up delivered its Kol Halev campaign in support of The Voice Referendum, and she championed initiatives to build greater understanding between communities and foster mutual allyship. Courtney brings a strong passion for social justice and the Jewish community. A former lawyer with senior leadership experience in the community legal sector, she is committed to advocating for systemic change and empowering vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

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