21. Say Our Names: Identity, Respect, and Belonging

What’s in a name? In a vibrant, multicultural society like Australia, names hold deep personal, cultural, and historical meaning.

Yet too often, non-Anglo names are mispronounced, altered, or avoided—reflecting lingering colonial legacies and contributing to the marginalisation of diverse identities in workplaces, schools, and community life.

In this panel discussion, community voices, academics, and thought leaders explore how respectful name recognition can foster deeper inclusion.

Panel facilitators

The event was MCed by Susana Ng, City of Sydney Multicultural Development Officer, Sand the panel was facilitated by Dr Elaine Laforteza and Dr Zozan Balci from UTS

Dr Elaine Laforteza has a PhD in Cultural Studies. She is the Equity and Diversity Project Officer (Cultural Diversity) at the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion. She has held academic positions at Macquarie University, Charles Sturt University, and most recently in the School of Communication at UTS. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals and community media, and her book ‘The Somatechnics of Whiteness and Race’ is available through Routledge.

Elaine hosts SBS’s award-winning podcast, ‘My Bilingual Family’, and is also an emerging playwright, producing plays for various festivals in Sydney.

Dr Zozan Balci is an academic and sociolinguist in the School of Communications. An expert in life history interviewing, she excels at transforming research into powerful storytelling that resonates with a broad range of audiences.

As a passionate social justice advocate, she connects researchers and students with real-world issues for social change, earning multiple awards for her work with not-for-profits and community organisations through the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion. Her new book, ‘Erased Voices and Unspoken Heritage’ is available through Routledge.

Speakers

Jie Pittman is a proud First Nations cultural educator, entrepreneur, and storyteller from the Gadigal-Darug, Murramurang/Budawang Dhurga-Yuin, Kooma, Wiradjuri, and Ngemba nations. As CEO of Jie Pittman Pty Ltd, he leads nationally recognised programs such as the 10 Elements Cultural Exchange and the Liven Deadly Program, which embed Aboriginal cultural identity and healing into education, government, and corporate spaces.

Jie brings lived experience and a deep understanding of the power of names as anchors of belonging, resilience, and intergenerational strength. His contribution to Say Our Name offers a decolonised lens on how name recognition can restore dignity, strengthen community identity, and create culturally safe spaces across schools, workplaces, and society.

Koon Lai is an executive coach and leadership facilitator with over two decades of experience with PwC. A seasoned executive, she brings deep lived experience to her transformative coaching, equipping culturally diverse leaders with the skills, strategies, and confidence to navigate and excel in the Australian workplace.

A leading voice on cultural inclusion, Koon’s thought leadership has resonated with millions on LinkedIn. Beyond her work, she is a proud mum of three boys and deeply connected to her Malaysian-Chinese heritage.

Kyriakos Gold is one of Australia’s leading voices in social enterprise, platform strategy, and inclusive public design. He is the founder and CEO of Just Gold, Australia’s first certified social enterprise creative agency and consultancy, and Chair of the Aurum Foundation.

His initiatives—including Autistic Pride Day, the Think platform, and inclusive governance frameworks—have shaped how governments, business, and communities engage with public impact. Kyriakos was inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll and received a commendation from the NSW Parliament. A former journalist and non-practising lawyer, he translates systems thinking into visibility, policy impact, and nationally recognised change.

Say My Name initiative and documentary

The Say My Name initiative developed by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) seeks to decolonise name recognition through correct pronunciation, cultural understanding, and everyday respect.

Watch the full documentary on Youtube: http://bit.ly/4e6cPDr

This episode was recorded at Customs House on 11 June 2025. The event was presented by UTS and the City of Sydney. This partnership is part of the City of Sydney’s social cohesion program, which aims to build a more inclusive and connected city.

Credits

Event recording by Zacha Rosen.

This episode has been lightly edited, including some introductory speeches and some of the Welcome to Country shortened.

Impact Talks at UTS is produced by UTS Impact Studios, with sound engineering by Alison Zhuang.