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| 11 Jun 2025 | |
| Top Stories |
St Peter’s College is pleased to host two public lectures in 2025 as part of the Rex J Lipman Fellows program. The School will welcome Stephen McGown in August and Nedd Brockmann in September.
Stephen McGown is an adventurer, author and motivational speaker who survived one of the longest-known Al-Qaeda hostage situations.
Nedd Brockmann is an endurance athlete, philanthropist and motivational speaker who captured the nation’s attention by running across Australia to raise millions for homelessness.
Old scholars, their partners and guests are invited to attend these free public lectures.
In 2011, while travelling through Mali on an overland motorbike expedition from London to Johannesburg, Stephen was kidnapped by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Held in captivity for nearly six years in harsh and isolated desert conditions, he endured physical, emotional and psychological challenges that most could not imagine. To improve his chances of survival, Stephen learned Arabic and French, converted to Islam and adapted to life in the most extreme of environments.
Since his release in 2017, Stephen has become a powerful voice for resilience and the human capacity to adapt in the face of unimaginable adversity. His best-selling memoir, Six Years with Al-Qaeda, offers an unfiltered account of survival, self-discovery and what it means to hold onto hope and identity under the most trying conditions. Despite immense personal loss - including the death of his mother just days before his release - Stephen continues to share his experiences with honesty, humility and a deep desire to help others navigate life’s hardships.
In this remarkable public lecture, Stephen will explore themes of mental strength, adaptability, cultural understanding and finding freedom even in captivity. Audiences will gain insight into how purpose and perspective can sustain us through the darkest of times. His story will leave you reflecting on your own resilience, challenging your perceptions of fear and control, and encouraging you to face the unknown with courage and compassion.
Rex J Lipman Public Lecture | Stephen McGown
Date: Thursday 14 August
Time: 6.45pm
Location: Memorial Hall, St Peter's College
Tickets: Free event. Please register to attend here.
Nedd Brockmann is not your average Australian; he is an electrician-turned-ultramarathon runner whose extraordinary feats of endurance have inspired a nation. In 2022, Nedd ran nearly 4,000 km from Perth to Bondi in just 47 days, raising over $2.6 million for homelessness charity We Are Mobilise. In 2024, he pushed himself even further, completing a 1,000-mile run in just 12 days and raising an additional $3.3 million. Through every blister, setback and breakthrough, Nedd has shown what is possible when purpose fuels the journey.
With raw honesty, humour and unstoppable energy, Nedd shares his story of physical pain, mental strength and what it takes to keep going when every part of you wants to stop. His signature mantra, "Get comfortable being uncomfortable," has resonated with Australians from all walks of life.
In this unforgettable lecture, Nedd will be interviewed by acclaimed journalist and presenter Jessica Adamson. Together, they will explore themes of discipline, mindset and turning adversity into action. Audiences will walk away not just entertained but empowered - challenged to embrace discomfort, live with intention and find purpose in service to others. It is a rare chance to hear from someone who runs not just for distance, but for change.
Rex J Lipman Public Lecture | Nedd Brockmann
Date: Monday 22 September
Time: 6.45pm
Location: Memorial Hall, St Peter's College
Tickets: Free event. Please register to attend here.
About the Rex J Lipman Fellows Program
The Rex J Lipman Fellows program brings the world’s best thinkers and leaders to St Peter’s College. A free public lecture gives everyone in the community the opportunity to discuss, debate and engage with leaders and commentators from a diverse range of fields. St Peter’s College passionately believes in the value of education and public debate, and delights in bringing distinguished national and international speakers to the broader South Australian community.
The benefactor of the Fellows Program, the late Dr Rex J Lipman AO ED OLH ONM (1922 – 2015) attended St Peter’s College from 1933 to 1937. Rex was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 for his contribution to the banking and thoroughbred horse racing industries, and, in 2008 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to education, tourism and the hotel industries. In the 1990s, the French government acknowledged his services to France by making him a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and an Officier in the Ordre National du Mérite. In July 2014, in the Bastille Day Honour’s List, he was promoted to the rank of Officier de La Légion d’Honneur – an extremely rare honour for an Australian. Rex is missed by the St Peter’s College community but his legacy lives on through the Rex J Lipman Fellows Program.
For further information, please contact events@stpeters.sa.edu.au