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May 2021
Australian Politics after COVID
Members' Lunch with Clare O'Neil MP
Hosted by Dr Helen Sykes AM
What does COVID mean for Australia in the decades to come? The world is not going to get put back together the way it was before. Post COVID politics needs to be about transformation, not restoration, and driven by optimism, not nostalgia. Clare grew up…
Find out more »Artificial intelligence in healthcare — opportunities and challenges
Members' Dinner with Professor Meng Law
Hosted by Prof Vin Massaro
In June last year, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS) called on the Australian government to invest in the safety and quality of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. “Artificial intelligence (AI) is already starting to transform healthcare and Australia must act now to set our own path through…
Find out more »Where to next for the Indigenous voice to Parliament?
Members' Lunch with Mark Liebler AC
Hosted by Prof Ian Dunn AM
Continuing Melbourne Forum’s series of programs devoted to recognition of the Indigenous voices in Australia and following the remarkable address by Professor Marcia Langton on 30 April, we are delighted to announce that Mark Leibler AC will lead a discussion on 24 May over lunch.…
Find out more »Political leadership today – what can we learn from Andrew Peacock AC?
POSTPONED due to COVID RESTRICTIONS
Hosted by Prof Ian Dunn AM
Members' Lunch with the Hon Mark Birrell and John Ridley AM With the passing of Andrew Peacock AC, Australian politics probably lost the last of the ‘small-l’ liberal leaders. What lessons are there from him that could help shape today's less than happy political environment?…
Find out more »Rising – a surge of art, music, performance and ceremony in the heart of Melbourne
A MF Cultural Life event with a 5:00pm start
Hosted by Sally Arnold
Attending 'Rising’ will give us an opportunity to catch up on Cultural events closed down last year. We will spend time in the Flinders Street Ballroom immersive multi sensory display of sight, sound and video and then walk across to the Myer Music bowl for…
Find out more »Rising II – a surge of art, music, performance and ceremony in the heart of Melbourne
A MF Cultural Life events with a 6:30pm start
Hosted by Pamela Creed
Ambitious in scale and impact, RISING will begin on the evening of the total lunar eclipse in May 2021. Over 12 nights, festivity and late-night culture will intersect with huge moments spanning the emerging and iconic, the epic and intimate.We have secured tickets to discover this…
Find out more »A Miracle Constantly Repeated, by Patricia Piccinini
A MF Cultural Life event
Hosted by Prof Andrea Hull AO
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 »Members’ Drinks return!
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS | Members' Drinks with Dr Michael Henry AM
Hosted by Prof Ian Dunn AM
It’s Time for a Drink! At last, we can get together over a convivial glass of something for the first time in over a year - and at one of our best loved venues. Members’ Drinks will return at fortyfivedownstairs (and yes, by all means…
Find out more »June 2021
An Independent Age?
POSTPONED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS | Members' Lunch with Gay Alcorn
Hosted by Prof Ian Dunn AM
Gay Alcorn was appointed Editor of The Age in September 2020. In its 166 years Ms Alcorn is the first female editor. Her appointment was said to be extremely popular. Since the merger between the Fairfax empire and Nine in 2018, many supporters of Melbourne’s most…
Find out more »The Strategies and Challenges of Getting to Zero
Digital Dinner with Dr Alan Finkel AO
Hosted by Prof Vin Massaro
The continuing debate and aspiration to reach zero carbon emissions is an urgent and international one that has seen many countries declare that they will be carbon neutral by 2050. Declarations of intent are a favourite outcome of intergovernmental meetings and international meetings more generally,…
Find out more »