Ramsay Lectures
The ABC, democracy and the importance of press freedom
Ita Buttrose, Chair ABC
Ita Buttrose argues for the importance of a free and independent media in the functioning of a strong democracy and address concerns about barriers to press freedom both in Australia and overseas.
Ita Buttrose AC OBE
Ita Buttrose has held executive and editing roles for major Australian media companies including Australian Consolidated Press, News Ltd and Fairfax, and has run her own media company, Capricorn Publishing. She has served on the boards of Australian Consolidated Press, News Corp Australia, and Television & Telecasters Pty Ltd. (Network TEN). She has worked in print, radio and television and has written 11 books. She was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame in 2017.
A founding member and former president of Chief Executive Women, Ita is a committed community and welfare contributor. She chaired Arthritis Australia from 2003 to 2006 and later Alzheimer’s (now Dementia) Australia from 2011 to 2014 and is now National Ambassador for Dementia Australia. She is Chair of The Australian Mental Health Prize Advisory Group.
She has been a member of the Sydney Symphony Council since 2010 and served as a Trustee of Centennial and Moore Park Trust in Sydney from 2012 to 2020. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.