JG Crawford Oration 2017

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark will deliver this year’s JG Crawford Oration. In this lecture, Ms Clark will explore the challenges the world leaders have set in agreeing on ambitious new global agendas for sustainable development, including for tackling climate change. She will comment on key constraints on realising these agendas, and outline the role for leaders at all levels in overcoming those in order to build a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable world. Ms Clark will also take part in an in-conversation session with ABC’s Radio National Host Geraldine Doogue AO.

About the speaker

Helen Clark was the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from April 2009 until April 2017 and was the first woman to lead the organization. She was also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.

Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen Clark served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three successive terms from 1999 - 2008. Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister, Helen Clark engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres. Under her leadership, New Zealand achieved significant economic growth, low levels of unemployment, and high levels of investment in education and health, and in the well-being of families and older citizens. She and her government prioritized reconciliation and the settlement of historical grievances with New Zealand’s indigenous people and the development of an inclusive multicultural and multi-faith society.

About JG Crawford Oration

The JG Crawford Oration was established to recognise Sir John Crawford’s outstanding contributions to the University, both as Vice-Chancellor for five years (1968-1973) and as Director of the Research School of Pacific Studies for the preceding seven years (1960-1967). Sir John was also the Chancellor of the University from 1976 to 1984. As an official and as a scholar, Sir Crawford exercised remarkable influence nationally and internationally. He was a key player in reorienting Australian economic policy in the mid-twentieth century and, along with a few counterparts in Japan and the United States, a pioneer in the building of an Asia-Pacific economic and policy community. The Oration focuses on current public policy challenges or concerns in a national and international context.