
Sydney Ideas
Sydney Ideas is the University of Sydney's premier public lecture series program, bringing the world's leading thinkers and the latest research to the wider Sydney community.
Latest episodes

Sep 24, 2020 • 54min
Disruption and disability (23 September 2020)
How is the shift to digital shaping workplaces, cultures and employment opportunities? Explore future ways of working that are truly inclusive of people with disability.
FEATURING
– Dr Manisha Amin, CEO of Centre for Inclusive Design
– Professor John Buchanan, University of Sydney Business School
– Dr Sheelagh Daniels-Mayes, University of Sydney School of Education and Social Work
– Charles Humblet, Co-Chair, Disability at Work Network, University of Sydney
– Penelope Pitcairn, Staff Accessibility Manager, University of Sydney
– Moderator: Associate Professor Jennifer Smith-Merry, Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy
This conversation was held as part of Disability Inclusion Week at the University of Sydney (21-25 September 2020).
For more info, including a transcript to this discussion, visit the website: https://bit.ly/2RgEKHq

Sep 23, 2020 • 57min
Art of influence: Shaun Gladwell
Shaun Gladwell’s practice engages personal experience and a wider speculation of art history to examine the dynamics of contemporary culture. Shaun transposes forms of urban expression such as skateboarding, graffiti, BMX bicycle riding, break-dancing and extreme sports into the multiple mediums of his practice. These performances, videos, paintings, photographs, sculptures and virtual reality works make discursive investigations into forms of creativity and notions of freedom.
Hear Shaun speak more about his work in this conversation with Blair French, CEO of Carriageworks.
The 'Art of influence' series features pioneering Sydney College of the Arts alumni, as they reflect on their careers, creative practice and the themes that inform their work. For more details, visit our website: https://bit.ly/34NTTba

Sep 8, 2020 • 58min
Raising the age of criminal responsibility (7 September 2020)
In Australia, you need to be 18 to vote, 16 to drive a car, 13 to get a Facebook account. But the current age of criminal responsibility is 10.
An estimated several thousand children under 14 appear in court on criminal matters each year. The vast majority of these are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
Apart from the undeniable long-term social costs, keeping young people in prison is also an enormous financial burden so where is the justification?
THE SPEAKERS
– Dr Michael Doyle, Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney Central Clinical School
– Roxanne Moore, Executive Officer, National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS)
– Dr Nicole Watson, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney Law School
– Associate Professor Megan Williams (Moderator), National Centre for Cultural Competence, University of Sydney
For more info and resources, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/2PLLw7i

Sep 7, 2020 • 51min
End-of-life decisions in non-production animals (27 August 2020)
This special Sydney Ideas conversation marks the 10th Annual Robert Dixon Memorial Animal Welfare Symposium and explores a series of critical questions regarding companion, performance and wild animals.
Considering we don't euthanise humans, how do we navigate through the ethics of conduct in this space and the potential conflicts of interest? Our panel discuss factors that influence end-of-life decisions.
FEAUTURING
– Dr Larry Vogelnest - Senior Veterinarian, Taronga Conservation Society
– Dr Martin F. Lenz, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission
– Dr Emma Whiston, Veterinary Home Euthanasia Service
– Dr Peter Bennett, Associate Professor in Oncology and Small Animal Medicine, University of Sydney
– Dr Kat Littlewood, Lecturer in Animal Welfare, Massey University New Zealand
– Chair: Dr Bidda Jones, Chief Science & Strategy Officer, RSPCA Australia
For more information, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3k5rnqB

Sep 1, 2020 • 60min
Higher degrees of value (26 August 2020)
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s the need to be agile and pivot. How do we prepare our current workforce, and the next generation of graduates, for an uncertain future? What skills will be critical? Hear insights leaders at some of Australia's top tech and management firms.
FEATURING
– Alison Cairns, Technology Advisory Practice and NSW Education Industry lead at EY
– Angela Murphy, Chief Executive, Distribution, Product and Marketing at Challenger
– Andrew Walsh, CEO of Iress
– Professor Annamarie Jagose (Moderator), Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
For more information, visit the Sydney Ideas website: https://bit.ly/3fZuFbE

Aug 18, 2020 • 58min
Art of influence: Dr Bronwyn Bancroft
Dr Bronwyn Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung Woman and Artist. Bronwyn has been exhibiting nationally and internationally for over three decades, and has illustrated and/or written 40+ children’s books.
Bronwyn is in-conversation with Nicholas Tsoutas, curator, writer and arts consultant.
The 'Art of influence' series features pioneering Sydney College of the Arts alumni, as they reflect on their careers, creative practice and the themes that inform their work.
For further links and resources, visit our website: https://bit.ly/2PlxhWC

Aug 18, 2020 • 37min
Money talks: divesting from fossils fuels
How can you ensure that your money is not supporting industries that accelerate climate change, but instead is part of the climate solution? Data, and public pressure, is shifting the conversation on investment in fossil fuels.
This dynamic panel brings together industry, activists and researchers to explore how we might achieve actions around investing and divesting to build a clean and prosperous future.
THE SPEAKERS:
- Dr Tanya Fiedler (Moderator), Lecturer at University of Sydney Business School
- Alison Eslake from Fossil Free Sydney provides an opening statement.
- Dr Alastair Fraser, Lecturer in the School of Economics
- Rachel Deans, Market Forces
- Phil Harding, Director of Finance, UCL Business
- Keith Rovers, Partner at MinterEllison
For more info, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3kQ0KGN

Aug 17, 2020 • 45min
Running out of water (6 August 2020)
By 2030 supply of natural resources will not meet demand. What can we do?
Hear about leading research – from smart sensors to new treatment processes –that rethink how we clean, transport, distribute water within ourselves that is equitable and sustainable.
THE SPEAKERS
– Professor Sally Cripps, Director, ARC Centre in Data Analytics for Resources & Environments (DARE)
– Professor Benjamin Eggleton, Co-Director of NSW Smart Sensing Network and Director of University of Sydney Nano Institute
– Dr Petr Matous, Senior Lecturer in the School of Project Management
– Professor Dianne Wiley, Head of School, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Visit our website for more information: https://bit.ly/3iPQ5do

Aug 14, 2020 • 30min
Why climate change and unsustainable development are health hazards
Rising temperatures and heatwaves; drought and interruptions to food supply; rising infectious diseases; air pollution; and extreme weather events all have a very real impact on one’s physical and mental health.
With these extreme events occurring more frequently, what effect will they have on our population?
THE SPEAKERS
- Professor Joel Negin, Head of School, Sydney School of Public Health
- Associate Professor Geoffrey Morgan, School of Public Health
- Jo Longman, Research Fellow, University Centre for Rural Health
- Dr Veronica Matthews, University Centre for Rural Health
For more information and further resources, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3iFWTKt

Aug 13, 2020 • 47min
The asset economy: inclusion, exclusion, debt (5 August 2020)
Young Australians are in danger of being the first generation in memory to have lower living standards than their parents’ generation.
What is the future of asset-sharing? Are we going back to an old class line: those with property, and those without?
THE SPEAKERS
– Professor Lisa Adkins (Moderator), Head of the School of Social and Political Sciences
– Dr Gareth Bryant, political economist, Department of Political Economy
– Professor, Martijn Konings, Professor of Political Economy and Social Theory
– Dr Sophia Maalsen, School of Architecture, Design and Planning
– Dr Laurence Troy, Lecturer in Urbanism, School of Design, Planning and Architecture
For more information and further resources, visit our website: https://bit.ly/3eODDYI