In this edition of Public Sector Perspectives, we talk to Ro Allen AM, new IPAA Victoria Fellow and Victoria’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner.

In a 30 year career across the public and community sector Ro has been a powerful voice for human rights and social justice in Victoria.

Ro was Victoria's inaugural Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ communities, and they've also worked widely across the public and community sectors, including being a former Chair of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and Chair of the Adult Community and Further Education Board.

As a young person, Ro experienced the trauma of religious conversion therapy, an experience that deeply shaped their commitment to human rights advocacy and has driven their work in investigating and addressing those practices.

In this discussion you’ll hear Ro’s thoughts on:

- the unique role that Commissioners hold in our Westminster system of government and how they exercise the power their position gives them

-why they always welcome seeing an inclusive lanyard or badge in public sector workplaces

- what gives them hope about building a more inclusive community at a time when political debate is becoming more polarised

- and why Melbourne based public servants should think twice before wearing jeans to a meeting with regional colleagues.

You can find out more about the work of Victoria’s Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission here: https://www.humanrights.vic.gov.au/

There is a full list of IPAA Victoria’s newly appointed Fellows here.

You can see IPAA Victoria’s upcoming events here: https://www.vic.ipaa.org.au/events/, and you can stay in touch with what we are doing by following us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/institute-of-public-administration-australia-victoria