Ethical inquiry has never been more pressing and important. Accelerated climate change, the rapid emergence of AI, the risk posed by nuclear weapons alongside the stalling of global democratisation and growing distrust of science – these are just some of the major global challenges facing our generation. Moreover, ethical considerations permeate every facet of our personal and professional lives, be it in the realms of business, medicine, politics, or the media. This is something increasingly recognised by universities and professional organisations – and is very much an inter-disciplinary concern.
Oxley College envisions a dynamic, inclusive, and enlightened learning community, where critical thinking and ethics form the bedrock. This vision aligns with the College’s status as a Round Square School—a global network championing ideals such as internationalism, democracy, environmentalism, leadership and service.
Oxley is committed to delivering an ambitious program of events for both our students and the local community in the Southern Highlands. These events will feature distinguished speakers and leaders from diverse fields, including philanthropy, higher education, non-governmental organisations, and industry.
Dr Jeremy Hall, Head of Philosophy and Ethics
Oxley College Centre for Ethics mailing list
Jennifer Robinson is an Australian human rights lawyer at Doughty Street Chambers in London, renowned for her expertise in human rights, media, public, and international law. She has been a vocal advocate for free speech, warning since 2010 about the implications of the U.S. government’s investigation into WikiLeaks. In 2024, she played a pivotal role in securing Julian Assange’s release, allowing him to return to Australia.
Robinson’s work often involves advising governments, individuals, and organisations on international law and human rights issues, including representing the BBC World Service against Iran’s persecution of BBC Persian journalists. She has provided expert evidence to the UN inquiry into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and acted for the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a murdered Maltese journalist.
In her TED talk, “Courage is Contagious,” she shares the story of Benny Wenda, the leader of the West Papua liberation movement, highlighting her commitment to helping those who stand up against powerful interests. Robinson also made history in 2018 as the youngest woman to appear before the International Court of Justice, successfully arguing for the right to self-determination in the Chagos Islands case.
Her legal work focuses on human rights, free speech, and freedom of information, advising major media organisations like The New York Times, CNN, and Bloomberg. She has also successfully challenged anti-protest injunctions and had the UK government’s fracking policy declared unlawful.
When: Thursday 20 February, 2025, 6.30pm
Where: Oxley College, Burradoo
Cost: Adults $15; Students free
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CXUOT
Professor Peter Greste explores the zone of tolerance — the space between the blacks-and-whites of polarised extremes that is essential to democracy, but that now appears to be unravelling. The rise of far-right parties in Europe and Latin America, and the recent elections in the United States have all seen the Grey Zone shrink. The startling rise in the murders of journalists is another symptom of the problem. Professor Greste draws on his 25 years of experience as a correspondent, and his time in Egypt, to discuss the Grey Zone, and why we need to protect it.
Peter Greste is an Australian journalist, author, and media freedom activist, currently an adjunct professor at the University of Queensland (UQ). He gained international attention in 2013 when he was arrested in Cairo on terrorism charges while working for Al Jazeera, leading to a seven-year sentence that was widely condemned as an attack on press freedom. His ordeal and subsequent advocacy for media freedom are depicted in the 2024 film The Correspondent, directed by Kriv Stenders.
When: Thursday 29 May, 2025, 6.30pm
Where: Oxley College, Burradoo
Cost: Adults $15; Students free
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CXUPD
Professor Stan Grant is talking to his country in a new way. In his poetic words and inspirational storytelling, he shares how embracing a path to peace and forgiveness is rooted in the Wiradjuri spiritual practice of Yindyamarra – deep silence and respect.
Inspired by spiritual thinkers and sages from around the world, he finds connections with Plato, Saint Augustine, Isaac Newton, jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, Saint Teresa of Avila, Simone Weil, among others. Murriyang is a Wiradjuri prayer in one long uninterrupted breath, challenging Western notions of linear, historical time in favour of Indigenous concepts of deep, circular time – the Dreaming.
Taking extracts from his new book Murriyang, in this presentation Stan pays respect to his father – a Wiradjuri cultural leader – and asks how any of us can say goodbye to those we love.
Professor Stan Grant is a Journalist, Author, Moral Philosopher, Film Maker and Communicator and has had a groundbreaking four-decade career as one of Australia’s most awarded journalists.
A Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharawal man, Stan has blazed a trail for First Nations journalists. In a career of firsts, he was the first Indigenous Political Correspondent, the first Indigenous Foreign Correspondent, he was the first Indigenous person to present a prime-time commercial television news and current affairs program.
For a decade he was a senior correspondent for American news giant CNN based in Asia and the Middle East. He has reported from more than seventy countries and has lived in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Hong Kong, and Beijing.
He is a best-selling author of seven critically hailed and award winning books covering world affairs, philosophy, theology, political science, Indigenous history.
Stan has been a professor of Indigenous Belonging at Charles Sturt University, Professor of Journalism at Monash University and Director of Asia Pacific arm of the Denmark based Constructive Institute.
He has won the prestigious US Peabody and DuPont journalism awards. He is a four-time winner of the Asia TV Awards and three-time winner of Australia’s highest journalism award, ‘The Walkleys’.
When: Thursday 19 June, 2025, 6.30pm
Where: Oxley College, Burradoo
Cost: Adults $15; Students free
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CXUPH
David Hunt
Australians have a complex relationship with their history – a history that is misreported, misremembered and misrepresented. Why have we ignored, forgotten or selectively reconstructed our past? And what are the consequences for Australians today?
David Hunt is an Australian history communicator and satirist. His first book, Girt: The Unauthorised History of Australia, won the 2014 Indie (Independent Booksellers) Award for non-fiction book of the year. The sequel, True Girt, was shortlisted for Audiobook of the Year at the 2017 Australian Book Industry Awards and the 2017 Russell Prize for Humour Writing. Literary prize judges for David’s 2021 Girt Nation were less discerning.
David spoke on Australians’ relationship with their past at TEDx Sydney 2017, hosted the ABC Radio Australian history podcast Rum, Rebels & Ratbags, writes and narrates the Defining Moments in Australian History animated video series for the National Museum of Australia, and co-wrote and co-presented Aussie Inventions That Changed the World for the History Channel and ABC, as well as featuring in several other documentaries on Australian history and culture. He also writes children’s picture books. David has a birthmark that looks like Tasmania, only smaller and not as far south.
When: Thursday 14 August, 2025, 6.30pm
Where: Oxley College, Burradoo
Cost: Adults $15; Students free
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CXUPP
