Governor-General Sam Mostyn will be delivering this year’s Anna McPhee Memorial Oration in Melbourne, where she will reflect on her first year in Office.
Mostyn, who stepped into the role as Governor-General last July, will deliver the prestigious speech organised by the Diversity Council Australia, which has been hosting the annual Oration since 2017.
Now in its sixth year, the Governor-General said that as a patron of DCA, she is “honoured” to be delivering a speech in honour of the late Anna McPhee — “DCA former Chair and passionate advocate for diversity and equal opportunity.”
“When I was sworn in as your Governor-General, I promised to make the values of care, kindness and respect the focus of my term,” the Governor-General said.
“Care for each other, care for those who care for others, care for our natural environment, our civics and institutions, and care for the way we discuss the issues of our time, without violence or judgment.”
“The Australia I have seen in my first year as Governor-General has left me optimistic – our modern nation’s success is underpinned by our diversity and shepherded by our values of care and respect.”
The late Anna McPhee was the Director of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency, and known for her advocacy on business issues across industry, politics, diversity and equal opportunity.
DCA’s CEO Catherine Hunter welcomed the Governor-General’s participation in the organisation’s 40th year.
“As DCA marks its 40th year, we remain focused on dismantling systemic barriers to inclusion,” she said. “Our upcoming new research on class inclusion, we will equip workplaces with new knowledge and practical to ensure everyone — regardless of background — has the opportunity to contribute and succeed.”
The oration, sponsored by international law firm Ashurst, will take place on Friday 22 August, at Zinc at Fed Square in Melbourne, and will include a panel discussion with expert speakers.
Previous Anna McPhee Memorial Oration speakers include Aboriginal Elder and Senior Australian of the Year Professor Tom Calma AO, Jess Hill, Julia Gillard and Stan Grant.
Become a Women’s Agenda Foundation member and support our work! We are 100% independent and women-owned. Every day, we cover the news from a women’s perspective, advocating for women’s safety, economic security, health and opportunities. Foundation memberships are currently just $5 a month.
Bonus: you’ll receive our weekly editor’s wrap of the key stories to know every Saturday. Become a member here.