On 2 May 2019 Professor Akbarzadeh hosted a roundtable discussion at Alfred Deakin Institute with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to discuss Australia’s place in the world and the future of Australian politics with a view to the rise of populism and pressures on multiculturalism. Deakin University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Jane den Hollander offered a warm welcome to the Hon Mr Rudd, Senator Raff Ciccone & Ms Jennifer Yang (ALP candidate for Chisolm). The meeting was attended by more than 40 academic and researchers.