Megan Davis AC
听News & events听
2025
Keynote: Prof Megan Davis presents at The Penn Program on Race, Science, and Society (University of Pennsylvania)
November 2025 -听Professor Megan Davis delivered the keynote presentation at The听听Working Group Colloquium.听
Prof Davis offered a rigorous and deeply informed analysis of constitutional reform and Indigenous governance, examining structural, political and policy implications with particular attention to long-term outcomes for First Nations communities. The key focus of her presentation was contemporary race and Aboriginal issues under the Australian Constitution, including state removals of Indigenous children in Australia, prompting sustained reflection and discussion among attendees.听
The colloquium,听convened听as part of the PRSS Working Group鈥檚 annual program, benefited听greatly from听Professor Davis鈥檚 contribution, which set an engaged and intellectually rich tone for the event.听
Prof Megan Davis is this year鈥檚听听at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Uluru Youth Dialogue Participate in very first Australia Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue
October 2025 -听Uluru Youth Dialogue Ambassador, Brydie Zorz, participated in the very , as both a delegate and member of the Youth Steering Committee.听
The Dialogue was a flagship 3-day gathering in Canberra bringing together youth leaders from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific to strengthen relationships, discuss a common agenda, engage with decision-makers, and share knowledge/skills ahead of COP30 in Brazil and COP31.听
Delegates had the opportunity to shape and strengthen the direction of intergenerational climate action.听
Representing the Uluru Youth Dialogue, Brydie participated in a panel discussion alongside young leaders from across the Pacific, including Samoa and Fiji, ensuring that First Nations youth perspectives are included in shaping the climate agenda into 2026 and beyond.听
The APYCD was hosted by UNICEF Australia and UNICEF Pacific, The Australian National University鈥檚 Department of Pacific Affairs and Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions, together with Western Sydney University鈥檚 Young and Resilient Research Centre.听
Professor Megan Davis AC delivers Integrity Oration for The Centre for Public Integrity
October 2025 -听Professor Megan Davis AC, delivered an Integrity Oration for The Centre for Public Integrity and sat down with former Federal Court Judge, the Hon Michael Barker, to speak on the Uluru Statement and the future of First Nations recognition. She discussed balancing听skepticism听with optimism, while calling out political integrity issues and the ongoing fight for true representation and self-determination.
Listen to the podcast episode via the link below.
A 鈥渢remendous honour鈥: Prof Megan Davis AC opens 2025 Tarnanthi Festival with powerful keynote
October 2025 -听In a powerful opening moment at the 2025 Tarnanthi Festival, Professor Megan Davis AC delivered the keynote address at the opening of the Art Gallery of South Australia鈥檚 Tarnanthi Festival 2025, speaking alongside Premier Peter Malinauskas, Minister Kyam Maher and Artistic Director Nici Cumpston OAM.
Describing it as a 鈥渢remendous honour鈥, Professor Davis called on the nation to continue listening, rebuilding, and walking together, echoing the spirit of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the ongoing work toward self-determination. Her keynote helped set a powerful tone for Tarnanthi 2025, honouring the deep history and future of First Nations artistic excellence.
Referendum Anniversary Webinar:听鈥淭he Deafening Silence听鈥 Vote No and the Status Quo鈥
October 2025 -听To mark the second anniversary of the 2023 Voice Referendum,听the Uluru Dialogue hosted an online听webinar听-听The Deafening Silence 鈥 Vote No and the Status Quo.听The panel event brought听together leading First Nations thinkers听to examine the policy vacuum that followed the referendum听including听Professor Megan Davis AC, Aunty Pat Anderson AO, Professor Bronwyn听Fredericks听and Geoff Scott, who听unpacked听what the No vote has meant for听both听Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples听and听the nation,听and why rejecting the Voice听ultimately upheld听the status quo.
To stay up to date with upcoming听webinar听events,听
91色情片 Diversity Festival 2025:听Belonging & What鈥檚 Next for Constitutional Recognition
September 2025 鈥 As part of 91色情片鈥檚 Diversity Festival 2025, Pro-Vice Chancellor Society 91色情片 and the Uluru Dialogue hosted an important conversation event -听Belonging & What鈥檚 Next for Constitutional Recognition. The audience heard from Co-Chairs of the Uluru Youth Dialogue, Bridget听Cama听and Allira Davis, alongside听Youth听Ambassador,听Brydie听Zorz. The panel explored the current state of Aboriginal Affairs, the lessons of the 2023 referendum, and the ongoing fight for constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples and structural reform. This powerful session鈥攑art of the听Conversations That Matter听series鈥攊nvited our community to reflect, connect, and engage with the future of justice and belonging in Australia.
To stay up to date with upcoming听webinar听events,听
Uluru Dialogue Leadership听meet in Brisbane to听talk听strategy
August 2025 -听Uluru Dialogue leadership came together in听Brisbane, with members flying from across the country and Prof Davis back from Harvard University.
Alyawarre听woman and Co-Chair of the Uluru Dialogue, Pat Anderson听AO听said:听鈥淲e have heard the calls from grassroots communities for us to听commence听work on a road map after two years of the relentless and depressing grind of the status quo.听The Statement听remains听a gift to the Australian people, and 6.2 million people have accepted this olive branch. This was always a people鈥檚 movement, so we march on.鈥
The meeting reinforced that the reforms called for in the Uluru Statement remain unfinished business, the need to belong and to be heard has not changed. Notably everyone agrees constitutional recognition听remains听the critical reform Australia has never tried.
Governments and bureaucrats continue to听demonstrate听that they need better input from grassroots communities to design better policies and deliver better outcomes.
Professor Megan Davis AC Inspires at She Leads UNITE! Conference
August 2025听鈥撎鼳s part of the She Leads UNITE! Conference, hosted by YWCA Canberra, Professor Megan Davis AC delivered a powerful online keynote from Harvard Law School. In her address, she wove together themes of unity and systemic change 鈥 speaking to the conference鈥檚 鈥淯NITE!鈥 motif 鈥 and called for deeper solidarity in the face of escalating political and social polarisation. Drawing on her experience as the Gough Whitlam & Malcolm Fraser Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard, her work with the Uluru Dialogue, and her leadership in Indigenous constitutional reform, she made a stirring case for collective action, democratic renewal, and Indigenous self-determination.听
Her remarks not only resonated with the conference鈥檚 emerging and听established听leaders but also challenged participants to imagine more inclusive, just futures. The session was widely praised by attendees for its intellectual depth, moral urgency, and hopeful vision, making it a standout moment of the day.
Workshop: Rights, Recognition and Retreat at Harvard Law
July 2025听鈥撎齈rofessor Davis hosted an international law workshop at Harvard Law School, Harvard University on Rights, Recognition and Retreat after the Referendum as Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University and Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School.听
It was funded by the Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair in Australian Studies and is part of the research Professor Davis has led as ARC Chief Investigator on 鈥淩ecognition after Uluru: what next for First Nations?鈥, an Australian Research Council Discovery Indigenous Project (IN190100075) with the University of New South Wales.听
The workshop provided a forum for the mapping out and development of deep critical and practical comparative understanding of State accommodation and recognition of Indigenous decision-making and representative institutions. It also incorporated different dimensions of political loss and the 2023 referendum loss.
An edited book will be published from the workshop.
Mob23 and Uluru Dialogue celebrate NAIDOC 2025 with听gathering grounded in culture,听leadership听and community pride
July 2025 -听The Uluru Dialogue partnered听with Mob23 to host a NAIDOC celebration听at Brigalow Country Club in Eagleby, with this year's theme being:听The Next Generation 鈥 Strength,听Vision听and Legacy.听It was a听deadly day filled with song, dance,听yarns听and shared food. Led with heart by Cath and Jay, the event featured a powerful panel with听Uluru听Youth Dialogue Ambassadors Brydie听Zorz听and Ryley听Bowman, hosted by the incredible Karina Hogan, leaving the community feeling energised and inspired.听
The Sing on the Balun choir lit up the morning with performances of听Blackfulla,听Whitefulla听and听Solid Rock, reminding us of the strength of music and storytelling in our shared struggle. Deep thanks to Helen Rose for the gift of Gumby听Gumby, to everyone who volunteered,听donated听or brought a plate, and to our partners who continue to champion听The Uluru Statement from the Heart.听It was a beautiful gathering grounded in culture,听leadership听and community pride.
Uluru Youth Dialogue听represents at the听United Nations听in Geneva
July 2025听鈥撎鼳 delegation听of Uluru Youth Dialogue leaders proudly听participated听in the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)听in Geneva, bringing the voices, experiences, and aspirations of young First Nations people听in Australia听to the international stage. Their engagement highlighted the ongoing work of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the importance of youth leadership in advancing the rights to self-determination, political participation in democracy, constitutional recognition of First Nations Peoples and structural reform.听
Throughout the sessions, the Youth Dialogue contributed to discussions on global Indigenous rights,听hosted an official side event,听shared community-driven solutions, and strengthened relationships with young Indigenous leaders听both regionally and听from around the world. Their presence at EMRIP stands as a testament to the strength, professionalism, and vision of the next generation of First Nations advocates.
Webinar:听Is a Vote "No" a 鈥淣o鈥 to everything?
May 2025 -听In the wake of the Prime Minister听walking听back听the government's commitment to the听Uluru Statement and symbolic recognition being rolled back following the 2023 Voice referendum,听this听webinar听explored an important question:听Is a Vote "No" a 鈥淣o鈥 to everything?
This听panel discussion offered much-needed clarity on what the 2023听No听vote really听means for Australia.听
A distinguished group of experts 鈥 Professor Megan Davis AC, Professor John Williams, Professor Gabrielle Appleby, Dr Paul Kildea, and Associate Professor Sana Nakata 鈥斕齞elivered a rich and thought-provoking analysis of the legal, historical, and political implications of the referendum result. The conversation shed light on the deeper consequences for constitutional reform,听unfinished business and the听relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, and the path forward. Attendees appreciated the frank, rigorous discussion and left with a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
To stay up to date with upcoming听webinar听events,听听or keep an eye on the Indigenous Law Centre鈥檚 website
A Vision for Belonging: Pat Anderson AO at the Welcoming Australia Symposium
May 2025听鈥撎鼳t the听Welcoming Australia Symposium: Where Everyone Can Belong,听Co-Chair of the Uluru Dialogue,听Pat Anderson AO,听delivered a powerful and deeply grounded address that reminded participants of the responsibilities we share in building a nation rooted in justice and belonging. Drawing on her lifetime of advocacy, from the Uluru Dialogue to decades of work in health, community development, and human rights, she spoke with clarity and warmth about what true inclusion听requires of听Australia. Anderson highlighted the enduring strength of First Nations peoples, the importance of listening, and the need for courageous, community-led change. Her contribution set the tone for a symposium dedicated to creating a country where every person is respected, connected, and able to flourish.
Webinar: 鈥淐an Parliamentary Committees Deliver for Indigenous Peoples? UNDRIP, the Voice and the Parliamentary Process鈥
April 2025 - Marking 16 years since Australia formally endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP),听the Indigenous Law Centre and PVC Society 91色情片听hosted听this听webinar听unpacking听Australia鈥檚 commitments under the UNDRIP听and听offering a deep dive into its key听objectives, particularly the right for ongoing political participation and the provision of 鈥楩ree, Prior and Informed Consent鈥.
Experts in international law, Indigenous rights, and parliamentary process听Prof Megan Davis AC, Prof Gabrielle Appleby and听Associate Prof Sarah Moulds,听analysed how current and proposed reforms align with these obligations.听
The discussion first examined how the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice听sought听to听provide听a structural mechanism for self-determination and stronger relationships between Indigenous peoples and the state. It then explored two alternative proposals: the UNDRIP Bill 2023, which includes a nationwide audit of laws and an action plan, and a proposal to broaden the mandate of the parliamentary joint committee on human rights to assess UNDRIP compliance.听
Together, these insights highlighted the opportunities and limitations of different pathways to securing genuine participation and authority for Indigenous peoples in line with UNDRIP.
To stay up to date with upcoming听webinar听events,听听or keep an eye on the Indigenous Law Centre鈥檚 website
Diplomacy training: Uluru Youth Dialogue prepare for the United Nations
April 2025听鈥撎齅embers of our Uluru Youth Dialogue recently took part in the UN Fellow Diplomacy Training at ANU, joining other Indigenous delegates preparing to engage with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples later this year.听
Representing听the Uluru Dialogue and the mandate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart were听Uluru Youth Dialogue Ambassadors听Brydie听Zorz, Dwayne Coulthard,听Sonjah听Stewart,听and Co-Chairs of the Uluru Youth Dialogue,听Allira听Davis听and Bridget Cama (plus听a special听little one). We are incredibly proud of this delegation of young people听鈥攚ell done! More to come from these inspiring young delegates as they continue to shape the next generation of leadership.
Webinar:听Explaining the听Yunupingu听Decision - High Court Outcome and Expert Insights
March 2025 -听Members听of the听Uluru Dialogue听and the听PVC Society team at 91色情片听travelled to Canberra to听witness听the听High Court of Australia dismiss the Commonwealth鈥檚 appeal in听Cth听v Yunupingu听鈥撎a landmark moment affirming the rights of the Yunupingu family and its significance for Native Title jurisprudence.听
To support community understanding of the decision, the ILC and PVCS hosted听a webinar听bringing together leading experts Kateena O鈥橤orman SC, Associate Professor Sean Brennan, Eddie听Synot, and Professor Megan Davis AC for an in-depth conversation titled听The Yunupingu Case Explained: Native Title, Compensation and Equality Before the Law.听The session provided clear, accessible analysis of the case鈥檚 implications and drew strong engagement from attendees听seeking听to understand this pivotal ruling.
To stay up to date with upcoming听webinar听events,听听or keep an eye on the Indigenous Law Centre鈥檚 website
International Women鈥檚 Day Webinar: First Nations听women听working towards a more听equitable听future
March 2025听鈥 To听mark听International Women鈥檚 Day 2025, the听Uluru Dialogue听hosted a special听webinar听celebrating the leadership, resilience, and advocacy of First Nations women in Australia. Aligned with the United Nations theme,听For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment, the discussion highlighted the pivotal role First Nations women have played 鈥 and continue to play 鈥 in advancing justice, equality, and empowerment within their communities and across the nation.听
The esteemed panel featured听Aunty Pat Anderson AO, a proud听Alyawarre听woman and renowned advocate for Indigenous health and human rights;听Aunty Jackie Huggins AM,听Bidjara听and Birri听Gubba听leader, historian, and long-time champion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights; and听Bridget Cama听and听Allira Davis, dynamic Uluru Youth Co-Chairs leading the next generation of First Nations activism.听
Facilitated by听Lucy Davis, the conversation explored the ongoing journey for recognition and reform, reflecting on the historical contributions of women to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and听their continued leadership in shaping a more听equitable听future. Attendees were invited to listen, learn, and stand in solidarity with these remarkable leaders, gaining insights into their work, challenges, and vision for a stronger, fairer Australia.
To stay up to date with upcoming听webinar听events,听听or keep an eye on the听Indigenous Law Centre鈥檚 website
91色情片 Celebrates Prof Megan Davis AC as a Changemaker for International Women鈥檚 Day 2025
March 2025 -听We were听thrilled to see Professor Megan Davis AC celebrated as a Changemaker during International Women鈥檚 Day 2025 at 91色情片 Sydney! Recognised for her trailblazing work as a constitutional lawyer, advocate for Indigenous rights, and leader in democracy and social justice, Professor Davis鈥檚 achievements continue to inspire generations. Her feature highlighted not only her remarkable career鈥攕panning the Uluru Dialogue, UN Indigenous rights advocacy, and academic leadership鈥攂ut also her role as a mentor and role model for women and young leaders. 91色情片鈥檚 celebration was the perfect platform to honour her vision, commitment, and the lasting impact she is making in shaping a more just and听equitable听Australia.
Uluru Dialogue Insights Shared at 91色情片 Global Indigenous Knowledge Exchange
February 2025听鈥撎齍luru Youth Dialogue Co-Chair and PVCS Legal Researcher,听Bridget Cama,听contributed to leading discussions at the 91色情片 Global Indigenous Reciprocal Knowledge Exchange. Bridget听engaged听directly with听Indigenous听delegates听from across the globe in the听tertiary听education space听on the future of Indigenous-led research, education, and community partnerships. Her session focused on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the continuing work of the Uluru Dialogue, and the reforms needed to advance听constitutional recognition听and meaningful structural change听for Indigenous peoples听in Australia.听The meeting created space for rich, reciprocal conversations, ensuring that First Nations priorities and perspectives听remain听central as the initiative continues to shape pathways for global Indigenous knowledge sharing.
Pat Anderson AO Honoured at ACSQHC Meeting Room Plaque Unveiling
February 2025 -听The 91色情片 PVC Society team were honoured to attend the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care event last week, where new meeting room name plaques were unveiled. Among these, one room proudly bears the name of Uluru Dialogue Co-Chair, Pat Anderson AO, recognising her extraordinary contributions to First Nations鈥 rights, health, education, and wellbeing. Pat鈥檚 room joins those named for Tom Calma AO and Dulcie Flower AM, reflecting a celebration of inspirational advocates whose work continues to shape Australia. The event was a meaningful opportunity to honour these leaders鈥 legacies and highlight the ongoing commitment to First Nations health, justice, and empowerment.
Sport and Advocacy: Uluru Youth Dialogue at NRL All Stars Week
February 2025听鈥 Leadership of the Uluru Youth Dialogue听participated听in NRL All Stars Week, continuing an ongoing partnership with the NRL that has been in place since 2020. Over the years, this collaboration has provided a platform for young First Nations leaders to share their perspectives on Indigenous rights, self-determination, and the Uluru Statement from the Heart. During All Stars Week, the Youth Dialogue engaged in workshops, panels, and interactive sessions, connecting directly with players, fans, and community members to foster discussions about culture, leadership, and reform. Their involvement听demonstrates听the power of sport as a platform for advocacy and highlights the vision, energy, and commitment of young First Nations leaders听and the broader Australian community听in shaping Australia鈥檚 future.
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