A Future We Can Believe In

Join the founder of The Orangutan Project Leif Cocks (OAM) as he discusses the stark reality of life on our planet, and what we can all be doing right now, to secure the future for all living beings. Leif will be joined by special guests the Hon. Emma Hurst of the Animal Justice Party and actress and animal rights activist Lynda Stoner to raise vital funds for urgent conservation and a way forward.

Set in the beautiful Victoria Dining Room of the Royal Automobile Club of Australia, and hosted by the wonderful David Smiedt, the evening will give you a unique insight into the work being undertaken to safeguard some of our planet’s last rainforest ecosystems and how this one direct action is a vital step towards safeguarding Critically Endangered orangutans - and creating a more stable world for us all.

Your ticket price includes a three-course five star vegan menu, quality Australian wine and boutique beer throughout the evening and superb live music by Australian singer and songwriter Alana Patmore.

Leif Cocks is a primatologist with 30+ years experience working with orangutans and has a Masters of science studying orangutans. He led the project to re-introduce the first zoo-born orangutan into the wild, and in 1998 founded The Orangutan Project to secure the survival of Critically Endangered orangutans in their natural habitat.

Orangutan expert Leif Cocks, pictured here when he reconnected with Temara, three years after her release into the wild.

The Orangutan Project has since contributed millions of dollars into orangutan conservation and has established a distinctive, holistic approach encompassing legally protecting rainforests; securing, restoring and patrolling rainforests; rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing ex-captive orangutans; and educating and empowering local communities and indigenous people.

Leif is the author of several books and academic papers on the subject of orangutan conservation, and his most recent Finding Our Humanity, also explores the fundamental links between our tribal past and our likely future on the planet (Books available on the night).

Last year Cocks was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, one of the country’s highest honours, for his work protecting Critically Endangered orangutans.

The Hon. Emma Hurst

Emma Hurst is the first female Animal Justice Party MP, elected to the Upper House of NSW Parliament. A former psychologist, Emma has worked tirelessly for the rights of animals for many years with a background in campaigning, political lobbying, and media work.

Since she was elected in March 2019, Emma has used her time in parliament to bring animals to the forefront of political discussion: running inquiries into battery hens and animals in entertainment, preparing legislation to ban puppy farms, securing legislative reform on the link between domestic violence and animal abuse, banning the breeding and importation of captive dolphins, increasing penalties for animal abuse, and campaigning against the use of animals in experimentation.

Lynda Stoner

Lynda worked as an actor throughout most of her life including theatre, musicals, TV shows including Young Doctors, Cop Shop, Cleudo, The Flying Doctors, Shark’s Paradise and Prisoner and movies including Echoes of Paradise and Crawl.

She has been an animal rights activist for 47 years since reading Professor Peter Singer’s “Animal Liberation.” She has been involved in countless sit-ins and rescues and exposes into the cruelty of battery hen facilities, broiler sheds and pig factories. She is currently the CEO of Animal Liberation and a Director of Animals Australia.

Six years ago she wrote the cookbook “Now Vegan!” which was reprinted four times.

David Smiedt (MC)

Is described by Adam Hills, as “a living breathing joke machine”. David Smiedt has been delighting audiences around the country and overseas with his brand of warm inclusive, uplifting, intelligent comedy. David is one of Australia's finest comedians, emcees and corporate performers.

A regular on television shows David is the author of seven humorous books and writes for a wide range of over 30 magazines including, Virgin Airline Mag, Elle, Home Beautiful, Cleo, Men's Health, Women's Health, Body & Soul, Sunday Style and Vogue where he specialises in a humorous take on style health trends and celebrity profiles. Aside from being the current grooming editor for GQ magazine he is the only journalist in Australian publishing history to be in concurrent issues of lads-mag Ralph and Your Garden. Topical and charming, David’s comedy will entertain and uplift.

Alana Patmore

Alana is a singer/songwriter from Sydney. She has played in multiple original bands, as well as performing with other ensembles and musicians around Sydney. She has done over 300 events including weddings, corporate events, parties, and bars. Her voice has a certain sweetness that captures the attention of her audiences.

Host or Publisher The Orangutan Project