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We are pleased to announce the 2024 Susan Ryan Oration will be delivered by Padma Raman PSM Executive Director of the Office for Women (OFW) at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 

The Susan Ryan Oration stands as the University's flagship International Women's Day celebration, dedicated to honouring the late Susan Ryan, one of our community's greatest advocates for age and gender equality. 
 
This annual event provides a platform to commemorate Susan's remarkable legacy of advocacy and her profound contributions that have positively impacted Australia and the global community. Through this Oration, we aim to foster critical dialogues on gender equity and discrimination, issues that Susan championed throughout her extensive career, and which continue to be pressing national debates today. 

Opening remarks will be made by ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃVice-Chancellor and President, Genevieve Bell followed by a Q&A and vote of thanks by Chancellor the Hon Julie Bishop.

A reception will be organised from 5-5.45pm in the Cultural Center Foyer after which attendees will be requested to take their seats in the Cinema. 

ºÚÁÏÌìÌà Padma Raman PSM  

Padma Raman PSM is Executive Director of the Office for Women (OFW) at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Prior to joining OFW in September 2023, she was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS) from 2021. In her time as CEO, Padma established ANROWS as the widely recognised leading authoritative voice on evidence to end violence against women and children.
 
Before starting as CEO of ANROWS, Padma was the Chief Executive of the Australian Human Rights Commission for 11 years. Prior to that she established and was Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Law Reform Commission for 9 years and served as a part-time commissioner of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission for 5 years.  

She has a wealth of experience as a senior executive at both the state and federal level, and in 2018 was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding service leading significant cultural, technological and governance change. She has a Master of Laws by research focusing on the experiences of immigrant and Indigenous women under the Australian legal system.  

She was also appointed by the Commonwealth Government as an independent member of the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃCouncil and serves on the Student Safety and Wellbeing Committee of Council. 

ºÚÁÏÌìÌà The Hon Susan Ryan AO
 
The Honourable Susan Ryan AO was one of the University's greatest pioneers for equality. Susan worked as the first female Senator for the ACT, starting in 1975, and was also the first female to hold a Cabinet role in the Hawke Government. 

Susan pioneered extensive anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation and was Australia's first Age Discrimination Commissioner from 2011 until 2016. 

Susan's legacy was recognised in 2017 when ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃawarded her an honorary doctorate, and again 12 months later when she was named ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃAlumna of the Year. 

In 2021, ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃVice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt announced the renaming of the ºÚÁÏÌìÌÃInternational Women's Day event to the Susan Ryan Oration to honour her legacy. 
 
 

Additional Information: 

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