Free + Equal Human Rights Conference

Join this pivotal and timely conversation about human rights in Australia and help strengthen justice, equity, compassion and respect as cornerstones of our society. 

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, this historic national forum includes 12 sessions and events over two days featuring more than 50 leaders, experts and advocates from our human rights, civil society, legal, business, and government sectors. They’ll discuss and promote a progressive overhaul of Australia’s human rights framework, focusing on the introduction of a Human Rights Act.

Don't miss one of the conference highlights, a time-travelling panel show hosted by Adam Spencer where some of Australia’s most dynamic legal minds, media figures and comedians will wrestle with hypothetical scenarios of rights gone awry. This event promises not only to enlighten but to entertain, offering intriguing insights into advancing human rights in Australia.
 

Free + Equal Conference: Thursday 6 June, 5pm - 8.30pm & Friday 7 June, 8.30am – 5.30pm

Rights On Time panel show: Thursday 6 June, 7pm – 8.30pm

Free + Equal Conference Speakers, Panellists & Presenters

• Waleed Aly | journalist, presenter, academic and writer
• Jennifer Robinson | Int. human rights lawyer (represents Julian Assange and Amber Heard) 
• Adam Spencer | comedian, writer and broadcaster
• Nazeem Hussain | comedian, author and presenter
• Tanya Hosch | Business executive, First Nations social activist and AFL D&I Gen. Mngr
• Sisonke Msimang | leading Aus anti-racism and women’s rights advocate commentator
• Prof. Philip Alston | lawyer, academic and int. human rights practitioner 
• Prof. Ben Saul | lawyer, academic and UN human rights Special Rapporteur  
• Prof. George Williams | Aus. constitutional law expert
• Prof. Kim Rubenstein | lawyer, academic and human rights advocate 
• Prof. John Tobin | human/children’s rights academic 
• Prof. Amanda Third | children’s participation academic
• Prof. Toby Walsh | UNSW chief scientist
• Em. Prof. Ros Croucher | AHRC President
• Dr Rosemary Kayess | Aus. Disability Discrimination Commissioner
• Dr Anna Cody | Aus. Sex Discrimination Commissioner 
• Anne Hollonds | Aus. National Children’s Commissioner
• Giridharan Sivaraman | Aus. Race Discrimination Commissioner 
• Lorraine Finlay | Aus. Human Rights Commissioner
• Dr Pichamon Yeophantong | UN Business and Human Rights Working group member 
• Dr Dinesh Palipana | doctor, lawyer and disability advocate 
• Assoc. Prof. Ramona Vijeyarasa | gender equality academic and advocate 
• Assoc. Prof. Sarah Moulds | human rights lawyer and academic 
• Kate Eastman AM SC | human rights lawyer and academic
• Chris Ronalds AO AM SC | discrimination lawyer, women’s rights advocate and Sex Discrimination Act drafter
• Rob Hulls | former Vic AG and Human Rights Act expert 
• Karly Warner | NSW/ACT Aboriginal Legal Service CEO
• Juliana Nkruma AM | women’s rights and refugee advocate
• Val Fell | advocate for older people 
• Zahra Al Hilaly | youth advocate 
• Ghassan Kassisieh | LGBTIQ+ rights advocate
• Hannah Diviney | disability rights advocate
• Anjali Sharma | climate change activist 
• Seleena Blackley | First Nations youth advocate 
• Alan Wu | racial justice expert 
• Tasneem Chopra | diversity and inclusion expert 
• Zaki Hadari | refugee advocate
• Kupakwashe Matangira | youth empowerment, gender equality and climate change advocate
• Anna Brown | LGBTIQ+ rights advocate
• Samantha Connor | disability rights advocate 
• Sam Kowalski | social change advocacy comms expert
• Hannah Ferguson | for purpose comms expert
• Mark Chenery | Common Cause Director and social change comms expert
• Gemma Pitcher | Common Cause Associate and social change comms expert