Melbourne Forum gives you access to the highest level of expertise and real-world lessons that our conversation leaders – all with a reputation for excellence – bring to the table under the Chatham House rule.
We are committed to providing a platform for, and the increased visibility of, diverse voices.
With varied formats (in-person or virtual; conversation leader or members engaging with each other; learning from experts or exploring viewpoints) there are multiple ways to participate.
Explore our upcoming program of events and forums.
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July 2024
Wifedom
Anna Funder slips into the pages of her hero George Orwell. As she watches him create his writing self, she tries to remember her own... when she uncovers his forgotten wife, it's a revelation. Eileen O'Shaughnessy's literary brilliance shaped Orwell's work and her practical nous…
Find out more »Dangerous Dinner: Have descriptions of Gender ever been more fluid?
How do we define a Man or a Woman? Society has started a potent debate on this. The term TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) accusations and clashes rage on, with J.K. Rowling often at the epicentre. Could both sides of the debate be right? Please share…
Find out more »The Greg Lynn verdict: a jury compromise or a jury inspired?
Greg Lynn, a former Jetstar pilot, was tried for the murders of Russell Hill and Carol Clay, who went missing in the Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020. Lynn pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the deaths were accidental. He claimed that an altercation with Hill over…
Find out more »August 2024
Current Issues Driving Sustainability Practice
We are delighted that member Jill Riseley AM will lead a conversation for members and guests on current issues driving sustainability practice. Jill is a Partner, Consulting - Climate and Sustainability, Public Sector at Deloitte. Considered one of Australia’s pioneering and preeminent climate, sustainability, circular…
Find out more »The Assange Legacy
Julian Assange is finally free. The Wikileaks founder is a free man after a 14 year legal battle that included seven years of self-imposed exile and 5 years incarceration. He returned to Australia in June 2024 after pleading guilty to a charge of “conspiracy to…
Find out more »September 2024
Carbon Trading and Management
How do we understand the nuances of carbon credits, offsetting, decarbonisation and funding climate action? Is the voluntary carbon market going through an evolution? What future changes will we see? What is the importance of continuing to fund major climate projects that reduce and avoid…
Find out more »Connections
This is an evening of unparalleled camaraderie and exchange as we come together for drinks at an enchanting city location. Cultivating Community As members of the Melbourne Forum, you have been pivotal in shaping our community's civic engagement landscape. This special event offers a unique…
Find out more »Leading Initiatives In Higher Education
Vice-Chancellor and President of Monash University, Professor Sharon Pickering, was appointed on 29 January 2024. Professor Pickering is a leading international scholar in the field of criminology with global expertise on border crossings, migration and trafficking. Her work across criminology and higher education has attracted…
Find out more »History In The Making: the 2024 US elections
The "leader of the free world” as the American President is described has considerable influence on the lives of people in the US and across the world. Who will prevail on the 5 November 2024 election and go on to claim the keys to the…
Find out more »Metaverse
What, exactly, is the Metaverse? As pioneering theorist and venture capitalist Matthew Ball explains in The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything, it is a persistent and interconnected network of 3D virtual worlds that will eventually serve as the gateway to most online experiences,…
Find out more »October 2024
Countdown To America’s Presidential Election
The US Presidential Elections are fast approaching. On 5 November Americans will go to the polls. With a month to go, what can we expect? What were the critical turning points in each campaign? What are the polls showing? Will domestic challenges rather than global…
Find out more »Ethics In The Modern World
Is our evolved sense of right and wrong out of step with the modern world? How do we separate what's natural from what's right? How can we reshape our thinking to thrive in the world? To guide us through this conversation is Dr. Tim Dean…
Find out more »