The Chair of the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, Olha Herasymiuk, has arrived in Melbourne to participate in a series of events dedicated to strengthening cultural and media cooperation between Ukraine and Australia. At Melbourne Airport, the head of Ukraine’s media regulator was warmly welcomed by Ukrainian diaspora activists, who greeted her with a blue-and-yellow flag bearing the autographs of Azov Regiment servicemen. Among those present was Ms. Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler, Regional Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and Chairperson of the local branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Association.
As part of her visit, Olha Herasymiuk will take part in the First Ukrainian-Australian Book Fest, where she is scheduled to speak in two panel discussions. The first panel, titled “How to Tell the World About Ukraine: Media, Books, Diaspora,” will explore current challenges and opportunities in shaping the international narrative about Ukraine. The second discussion, “From Silence to Voice: The Role of Women in Defending Rights and Dignity Through Culture,” will highlight the contributions of women in cultural and media resistance, as well as in the defense of democratic values.
Separately, at the University of Melbourne – one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious universities – Olha Herasymiuk will deliver a lecture titled “Women on the Frontlines of Truth: Ukrainian Journalists and Authors During the War.” The event is organized for the academic community and aims to highlight the role of Ukrainian women in media in documenting wartime events and preserving truthful information amid Russian aggression.
The visit also includes a series of working meetings. Notably, the Chair of the National Council is scheduled to meet with the Mayor of Melbourne. A separate meeting is planned with the leadership of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) – Australia’s national media regulator. The parties will discuss experience-sharing in media regulation, strategies to counter disinformation, and prospects for bilateral cooperation.
The program also includes a number of meetings with Australian journalists and editors aimed at deepening media partnerships.
