7th Sir Zelman Cowen Centre Oration

Craig Foster AM will deliver the 7th Sir Zelman Cowen Centre Oration on sport and human rights.

The 7th Sir Zelman Cowen Centre Annual Oration will be delivered by Craig Foster AM on Thursday 28 September 2023.

Mr. Foster will be speaking on the important role of sport as a catalyst for advancing human rights.

The annual Sir Zelman Cowen Centre Oration is the main public education program offered by the Centre and is a platform to address topics concerned with the promotion of fairness, equity, and inclusion in Australian society.

Mr Foster is well known for his significant contributions to sport having had a decorated football career as a former Socceroo before becoming a sport analyst and broadcaster. In addition to sport, Mr. Foster continues his contribution to Australia’s public life by advancing human rights through his social justice advocacy.

“The recent Women’s World Cup was a perfect example of the transformative power of sport and its ongoing challenges. Even as all records were broken and prejudices overcome, the winners were subject to horrendous levels of sexism and misogyny that highlighted the work ahead for women in sport to be safe, let alone excel," says Mr Foster.

"The only way forward is governance reform, but how will the system be challenged?"

Mr Foster was part of the team who secured the evacuation and resettlement of over 100 Afghans from Kabul in 2021, including the Afghan National Women’s Football Team.

In the same year, Mr Foster was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant services to human rights, multiculturalism, and refugee support organisations, and to football, and is the current NSW Australian of the Year for 2023 and Chair of the Australian Republic Movement.

He is a member of the Australian Multicultural Council under the Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship division, and works across a vast range of social programs from First Nations rights and self-determination, homelessness and domestic violence, climate action and gender equality and is particularly well known for his activism and refugee advocacy.

Please join us in person for this significant event.