A name synonymous with the women’s movement in Australia over the past 60 years is Marie Coleman. As part of the  2023 Pamela Denoon Lecture series, Marie reflects on her time as the first woman to head a federal government agency in 1973 and her advocacy for universal childcare, single mothers' payments, paid parental leave and the push for equal pay. And.... Nearly 20% of people in Australia self-identify as having Asian ancestry, yet less than 2% of Chief Executives have an Asian cultural background. Julie Chai is the Founder and CEO of the Asian Leadership Project and in partnership with law firm Clayton Utz, she and her expert panel interrogate the discrepancy. 

One of the most tedious things about social media is the self-appointed authorities spouting commentary on any and every subject. All the while experts are increasingly degraded or ignored in our public discourse. But how do we make sense of the world and who we should be listening to when everyone's an 'expert'?

Would you eat protein brewed in a vat from bacteria instead of meat? "Nom nom nom!", you might say. George Monbiot probably agrees. One of the most influential thinkers on the future of of the planet, now he's interrogating what's on our dinner plate, and the staggering business of how it got there. He joins Natasha Mitchell to discuss his provocative book, Regenesis: how to feed the world without devouring the planet. And it all comes down to connecting with the Tolkienesque world beneath your feet.

Three influential women explore the power, the politics, and the cost of speaking out. 

Is your personal data safe? Do you know how to protect them from scammers and hackers? As your digital footprint expands, many people are questioning whether the benefits of technological innovation outweigh the potential for misuse of their personal data. But there are options to optimise and safeguard who can access your data. Companies around the world are investing more and more in cybersecurity – but you also need to do your part and practice good cyber hygiene.

From medicines to restoring damaged soil, the kingdom of fungi is the world's unsung hero playing a huge role in maintaining and supporting our ecosystems. 

What do coral reefs have to do with cancer? What does First Nations knowledge have to do with making the rice on your dinner plate more resilient? Can science save the world? Does the world need saving? Hopeful stories from 4 scientists, all big thinkers turning big ideas into life changing opportunities for humans and the air, water, food we rely on. 

Whether you keep the peace or go to war – it often depends on who your friends are. Alliances between nations have shaped our modern world. States make alliances out of self-interest, fear, or ideology, and the ensuing relationships are rarely easy, especially when they are put to the test. Historian Margaret MacMillan looks at the nature, dynamics and different types of alliances, and tells you why some succeed, and others fail.

University should be a place that nurtures big ideas; where curiosity and creativity thrive. But are our universities struggling with a lack of imagination? Increasingly, higher education in Australia has become transactional, relying heavily on students to bring in revenue. But if Australian universities are to meet the challenges of the future, is it time to rethink the current business model and think more boldly about the purpose and value of universities?

Science fiction’s most frequent alternative to human is 'alien', another rich imaginative resource with which to think about what makes us human. Whether aliens are imagined as conquerors or saviours, their superiority has often been used to explore human limitations.