2023 referendum on a Voice to Parliament

Professor Deborah Terry, Vice-Chancellor and President, UQ

Professor Terry is a highly experienced leader in the Australian university sector – and an internationally recognised scholar in psychology. 

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Professor Katharine Gelber, Head of School, UQ School of Political Science and International Studies

An advocate for freedom of speech, Kath’s research in governance and public policy will ensure a deep and broad discussion.

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Professor Rick Bigwood, Academic Dean, TC Beirne School of Law, UQ

Professor Bigwood was formerly the Senior Solicitor and Acting Principal Solicitor with the Federal Attorney-General's Department in Canberra (Office of Commercial Law). His research on contract, equity and property law is widely publishes in leading international journals.

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Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement

Bronwyn has been Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at The University of Queensland for 5 years. In 2016, Bronwyn was appointed as Presiding Commissioner with the Queensland Productivity Commission to lead the inquiry into service delivery in Queensland’s remote and discrete Indigenous communities. She also worked on the inquiries into manufacturing (2017) and imprisonment and recidivism (2019), and the Queensland Recycling Review (2019). She is presently on the Expert Panel for the Review of the Queensland Archives (2022).
 
Bronwyn was Chairperson of University Australia’s DVC/PVC Indigenous Committee and a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Consortium. She is a member of the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) College of Experts, the ARC Medical Research Advisory Group, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Research Advisory Committee, and the Beyond Blue National Research Advisory Committee. She is a past recipient of an NHMRC Post-Doctoral Fellowship (via Monash University) and an Australian Endeavour Award (via QUT). Bronwyn was a research lead in the health node of the ARC-funded National Indigenous Researchers and Knowledges Network. She has reviewed for the NHMRC, ARC, AIATSIS and numerous other organisations, including for government agencies and NGOs. Bronwyn holds both VET and university qualifications.

Bronwyn is the recipient of the Inaugural NAIDOC Education Award 2022.
 
Bronwyn is noted for her community-based research and translation of research outcomes, and her commitment to social justice and improving Indigenous health and education outcomes.

Adjunct Professor The Honourable Matt Foley 

Matt served as Queensland’s Attorney-General, and is a practising barrister and Adjunct Professor of Social Work.

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Lucy Davis, The Salvation Army, Uluru Dialogue and Mob23

An Aboriginal, South Sea Islander woman, Lucy has a strong commitment to her local Indigenous community. Her current role supports The Salvation Army in helping to break down barriers and embrace effective strategies to engage with mob and communities.

Lucy also facilitated one of the first virtual yarning circles for the Uluru Statement from the Heart with more than 50 CEW woman in attendance with a leading panel of Sam Mostyn, Aunty Pat Anderson AO and Professor Megan Davis.

In the lead up to the Referendum Lucy helps facilitates virtual yarning circles called ‘Start a Yarn’ for the Uluru Dialogue team. The circles allow Australians to listen to the journey of the Uluru Statement from the Heart while offering people a chance to engage in respectful conversations with leaders of the Uluru Statement on the upcoming referendum and what an enshrined voice to parliament looks like.

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Mervyn Riley, The Salvation Army Australia Territory, Uluru Dialogue and Mob 23

A Barrugum and Barada man, Mervyn has been involved in the Uluru Dialogue since 2017 and is a signatory to the Uluru Statement. He was one of 10 people chosen to represent the Brisbane Uluru Dialogue events which are being held around Australia.

As a moderator of the Dialogue events, Merv is facilitating yarnings with communities about their journey from the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the 2023 referendum – providing the community with opportunities to ask questions.

Professor Nicholas Aroney, Professor of Constitutional Law, UQ

Nicholas has published more than 150 journal articles, chapters and books on constitutional law, comparative constitutional law and legal theory. He has made numerous influential submissions to government and parliamentary inquiries and was appointed to an expert panel advising on whether Australian law adequately protected freedom of religion in 2017.

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Louise Clegg, Barrister

Louise Clegg is a barrister specialising in public law and employment law and has appeared in most New South Wales and Federal Courts and tribunals, including administrative, industrial and anti-discrimination tribunals. Louise takes a strong interest in democratic institutions and government and has lectured in constitutional law.  

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Professor Sarah Joseph, Griffith Universty Law School

Sarah is a Professor of Human Rights Law, and commenced at Griffith University in March 2020. Prior to her Griffith appointment, Sarah had been a Professor of Law at Monash University from 2005-2019 and was the Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law for those 15 years.

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Professor James Allan, Garrick Professor of Law, UQ

James holds UQ’s oldest named chair and has published widely in leading journals. His areas of interest are legal and moral philosophy, constitutional law and bills of rights.

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