05 August 2024: An address by Chancellor of the University of Western Australia, former Chief Justice the Hon. Robert French AC, on universities, freedom of speech and academic freedom was just one highlight of the 2024 Ramsay Postgraduate Orientation last month.
His address, ‘The Meaning of Life, the University and Everything – Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom’ was delivered at a special black-tie Postgraduate Scholar Dinner on the final night of the two-day orientation.
The dinner was attended by our newly announced 2024 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars, Mr French, US Consul-General Christine Elder, former NSW Premier and former Consul- General in the US the Hon Nick Greiner AC, and prominent representatives from Sydney’s business, legal, intellectual and media circles.
Hosted by Ramsay Centre CEO Dr Martin Fahy, it was also attended by former Prime Minister the Hon Tony Abbott AC and members of the Ramsay Centre Executive and Board.
In his address, Mr French spoke of the critical importance of interdisciplinarity and engaging with diverse perspectives. He argued that neither academic freedom nor freedom of speech should be eroded by unscrutinised incursions from laws, university regulations or policies, “…which employ virtuous sounding language of wide application and can create vaguely defined legal constraints and administrative powers limiting these important freedoms.”
Mr French congratulated the scholars, urging them to enjoy their freedoms, “…protect them and exercise them well.”
The 2024 Postgraduate Orientation was held at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel. In addition to our new scholars, some representatives from other intakes attended, keen to share their perspectives and experiences.
Ramsay Centre CEO Dr Martin Fahy opened the program, leading the scholars through strategic exercises designed to help further clarify their academic ambitions and personal goals, as well as identify ways they could emulate their benefactor, the late Paul Ramsay AO, by generously giving back to Australian society.
The session uncovered many shared interests and synergies across a multitude of academic disciplines, as well as a genuine desire from the scholars to pay forward the investment that has been made in their academic and leadership journey.
Special guest Ross Piper, Chief Executive of Australian Ethical Investment, then led an inspiring session, unpacking his remarkable career and the personal decisions behind it. Mr Piper has held leadership roles in mining, investment banking, international development and finance, and worked in such contrasting environments as Macquarie Bank and humanitarian postings for World Vision in Serbia, Montenegro, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
To ensure the scholars felt confident in their new environments, leading executive presence coach Chloe Oestreich led an interactive workshop on how to make an impact and communicate effectively. The scholars were also treated to the perspectives of current and past scholars studying abroad as well as a session with Australian Catholic University Western Civilisation Academic, Associate Professor Johanna Harris, who spoke on leadership and giving back, as well as her University of Oxford experiences.
The Centre announced 31 recipients of our Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship last month. These outstanding, young Australians will be supported to study at the world’s best overseas universities with funding of up to AUD$90,000 p.a. for one, two and in select cases three years of coursework and/or research.
2024 Postgraduate Scholar Emma Nihill will study a Master of Studies in English Language and Literature (650-1550) at the University of Oxford. In her vote of thanks on behalf of the 2024 cohort, Emma praised the ‘remarkable orientation event and scholars’ dinner’.
“Over the last couple of days, we have been afforded the opportunity not only to forge relationships within our 2024 cohort and with the esteemed representatives and friends of the Centre, but also to learn so much about the Ramsay Centre itself and receive valuable guidance on our academic journey ahead and our future careers,” Emma said.
Emma said the scholars were “profoundly thankful” to Paul Ramsay, whose “…visionary philanthropy and enduring belief in the transformative power of education have made these scholarships possible.”
Interested in our Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarships? For more information on our postgraduate scholarships go to: https://www.ramsaycentre.org/scholarships-courses/postgraduate-scholarships/
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098/ sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org
For more information on the centre please visit our website: www.ramsaycentre.org