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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June 2021
What Can We Do About Climate Change?
The existential global challenge of climate change – with all its environmental, economic, social, technological and political complexities – can be overwhelming. So, what can we practically do as individuals to mitigate and prepare for climate change? What is our personal role in getting to…
Find out more »The future of food in urban environments?
Productive buildings with thriving ecosystems which sustain their inhabitants. Matt, Jo and Joost would like to welcome you into their home for a 45 minute guided tour through futurefoodsystem - a productive building that is a zero-waste eco system that mimics nature. Learn about its…
Find out more »Should the Olympics go ahead?
Stop Press — Brisbane Olympics 2032 Rod is very familiar with the developments leading to Brisbane being chosen for 2032 ( it’s not a done deal though). He has agreed to discuss this also! Rod McGeoch AO is best known as the leader of Sydney’s…
Find out more »The India Way
The very nature of international relations and its rules are changing before our eyes. In The India Way: Strategies For An Uncertain World (Harper Collins, September 2020) Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar analyses these challenges and spells out possible policy responses. Dr Jaishankar has been India's Minister of…
Find out more »A night at the Justin Art House Museum with Donald Bates
The Itinerant Architect: A Man Within All Countries We are delighted to be returning to the Justin Art House Museum for a very special evening with Donald Bates as he presents The Itinerant Architect; A Man within All Countries, followed by a viewing of…
Find out more »Life-long leadership: like any practice, leadership grows and develops the more you use it
Join this discussion with alumni from Leadership Victoria's Williamson Leadership Program who are exercising their leadership in ever-changing ways. We have many Leadership Victoria alumni within the Melbourne Forum who can attest to the brilliance of the Williamson Community Leadership Program, and we are excited to…
Find out more »Stephen Bartholomeusz — Masterful Finance Columnist: A discussion
Stephen Bartholomeusz is one of Australia’s leading Economics Journalists After 23 years at The Age, during which he rose to the position of Associate Editor, Stephen left to co found the Business Spectator in 2007. In 2012 he took up a position at The Australian…
Find out more »July 2021
Leaving no-one behind in global vaccination against COVID-19
Whilst, to date, and perhaps not surprisingly, wealthier nations have treated the immunisation of their own citizens as the top priority, it is becoming increasingly clear that for our societies to regain an existence closer to what we previously knew, a high level of immunisation…
Find out more »A Miracle Constantly Repeated, by Patricia Piccinini
After holding Melbourne’s imagination for decades, the mysterious Flinders Street Station ballroom (and its surrounding hidden rooms) will open to the public to become A Miracle Constantly Repeated, – an ecosystem of hyper-real silicon sculptures, video, sound and light devised by Patricia Piccinini. Piccinini has…
Find out more »The impact of COVID-19 on universities and the path to recovery
International education was Victoria’s single largest export sector in 2019, worth $13.7 billion and supporting around 79,000 jobs. Over 250,000 international students studied here in 2019, but by December last year that figure had more than halved due to the coronavirus pandemic. Australia’s higher education sector, which had grown reliant on international student fees, has lost billions…
Find out more »A social event at the Kelvin Club
Join us for a special after hours social event with our new friends at the Kelvin Club. They are opening up the doors for us, showing us around their premises and speaking to the benefits of our association as announced by our Chairman, Prof Ian…
Find out more »Electric, Hydrogen, Autonomous? Hope, Hype, Reality of New Modes of Transport
Electric cars are here, there’s lots of hype about hydrogen, and self-driving cars may be just around the corner. When will we get them? How will they work? Are they safe? What will they mean for our cities? Who wins and who loses from their…
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