Surgical pioneer Professor Kelvin Kong AM presents the 2026 Wang Gungwu Lecture, premiering on Friday 20 February at 8:00pm AEDT on ABC Australia and ABC iview.

In its fifth year, the annual Wang Gungwu Lecture celebrates the contributions of inspiring Chinese Australians to business, science, politics, education, sport and culture.

Professor Kong is a proud Worimi man of Chinese Malaysian heritage and recognised as Australia’s first Indigenous surgeon. He has dedicated his life to improving the health of others through his work in paediatric and adult otolaryngology, head and neck surgery and his distinguished career spans medicine and policy development with a focus on improving health outcomes for Indigenous communities.

In an uplifting address delivered at Parliament House’s Great Hall in Canberra, Kong honours the sacrifices of his Chinese ancestors who endured war and poverty and his Aboriginal family members who faced structural barriers and policies of exclusion.

Kong also addresses the ongoing challenges faced by Chinese and First Nations peoples who experience racism, microaggressions and assumptions around identity, and reflects on his own experiences navigating his identity and a sense of belonging.

“I’m so humbled by this,” Professor Kong said upon finding out he had been offered to deliver this year’s lecture. “There are so many amazing Chinese Australians in this country that I put on a pedestal and I’m probably sitting on the bottom of that list, so to think that I’m worthy of a conversation makes me extremely honoured.”

Minister for International Development, Minister for Small Business and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Dr. Anne Aly said, Chinese-Australians are the largest multicultural community in the country. Spanning many generations, languages and origins, contributing to every aspect of Australian society.

“Our national story weaves ancient songlines and migrant journeys, with inspiring Australians such as Professor Kelvin Kong AM bringing that story to life. As a Worimi man of Malaysian Chinese heritage, he embodies the intersection of histories that have shaped this country and demonstrates how diversity strengthens our institutions and our shared sense of purpose.”

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said, “We are delighted to be bringing Professor Kong’s story to audiences in Australia and to the Asia Pacific across our ABC TV, digital and social platforms, celebrating a unique First Nations and Chinese migrant experience. This is our fifth year of working with the National Foundation of Australia China Relations in producing the Wang Gungwu lecture. It’s a productive partnership which provides a vehicle for us to tell the story of modern Australia to audiences across our region.”

Chair of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the lecture’s host Marina Go AM, said “Professor Kong is an inspiration. He brings to his lecture his skill as a surgeon, a sense of awe at the gift of hearing, and authenticity as a storyteller. As he highlights in his own life the extraordinary contributions of both Chinese-Australians and the Traditional Owners, he brings us together as a nation”.

About the Wang Gungwu Lecture

The annual Wang Gungwu Lecture, named after eminent Chinese historian Professor Wang Gungwu AO, CBE, celebrates the substantial and longstanding contributions of Chinese Australians to Australia’s national story.

The Lecture is a partnership between ABC International and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Previous speakers have included Olympic diving champion Melissa Wu OLY, business leader Ming Long AM, Australian Children’s Laureate and author/illustrator Gabrielle Wang, and former Australian of the Year and paediatrician Dr John Yu AC.

Where to watch:

• The 2026 Wang Gungwu Lecture will premiere on ABC Australia and ABC iview at 8:00pm AEDT on Friday 20 February.
• It will also be available on demand via ABC Asia from 9:00am AEDT on Saturday 21 February.