We are a community of curious, connected and interested Melburnians contributing to and engaging on the important issues of today and tomorrow.
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 new experiences) there are multiple ways to participate.
Explore our upcoming program of events and forums.
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July 2021
Exit Strategy: Politics of Care or Fear?
What should government be responsible for in the twenty-first century? Will Australia be a country of concern and care or will it be shaped by a politics of fear? In Exit Strategy - Politics After the Pandemic (Quarterly Essay, 28 June 2021) George Megalogenis explains that between the fires and…
Find out more »Global responsibility sharing post COVID
We are delighted to announce that Prof Gillian Triggs, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection UNHCR will be joining us all the way from Geneva for a special MF Digital event. Prof Triggs was one of our first Signature Event Conversation Leaders in…
Find out more »November 2024
Celebrating Life through Food, Festivals and Funerals
Save the date now to join us for a beverage after work on Wednesday 18th November while Sylvia Johnson leads a conversation on celebrating life through food, festivals and funerals! Sylvia has performed over a thousand marriage ceremonies, more than seven hundred funeral farewells, and…
Find out more »August 2021
Gideon Haigh and Doc Evatt, great story
Gideon Haigh is known as perhaps Australia’s best cricket writer. He has a regular column in The Australian and often features as an erudite commentator on the ABC program, “Outsiders". Many of his cricket books have won the highest awards for sporting journalism. But his…
Find out more »Victorian “On Country” Aboriginal Immersion information night
Connecting with the land connects us with our most true nature. We are very proud to be working with one of our members, Gareth Andrews, to bring you this exclusive Victorian "On Country" Aboriginal Immersion study tour. Like our other study tour, you will be…
Find out more »Crony Capitalism: How political favouritism works in Australia
How Donations, Relationships and Favours shape government policy, regulation, and investment and why corruption bodies and the legal system fail to address it. We pride ourselves on our democratic and transparent government institutions; but evidence on how decisions are made reveals an entrenched system of…
Find out more »Covid, and its effect upon employment. SPC on safe ground?
Andrew Stewart is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable experts in employment law in Australia. After serving as Dean of Law at Flinders University, he took up his present position as the John Bray Professor of Law at Adelaide University. He has published widely…
Find out more »An insiders view of the horror of Kabul
In the light of events in Afghanistan in recent days, the Melbourne Forum has invited Dr Nouria Salehi and Homaira Mershedi to speak with us on Monday evening. Nouria and Homaira will share their understanding of what has occurred in Afghanistan, concern for the staff…
Find out more »MF Study Tour: Victorian “On Country” Aboriginal Immersion
Connecting with the land connects us with our most true nature. We are holding our second information evening on line. If you are still interested in attending this study tour, rsvp below for the trip you want to attend and join us next week via…
Find out more »Beyond Artificial Intelligence: examining the importance of technical, cultural and ecological systems
We’ve been focusing a lot recently on artificial intelligence and the broad applications and implications of its growing presence and effects on our lives. So we have invited Professor Bell to provide some background on Artificial Intelligence, the conversations in which it was imagined and their…
Find out more »September 2021
Trust, Truth, Integrity & Accountability OR Easy Lies and Influence
Fiona McLeod is a Senior Counsel at the independent Bar in Australia practising in the areas of commercial and public law matters. She represented the Commonwealth of Australia in major cases including leading the legal team in the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, Queensland Floods Commission…
Find out more »The real history on colonising Australia
There is still a great deal of truth telling to be told, and if we are to take seriously this need for telling the truth about our history, we must start at first principles. What if the sovereignty of the First Nations was recognised by European international…
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