AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2019 2020 Championing a humanised future for Australia The Australian Academy of the Humanities is the peak national body for the humanities and one of the nation’s four Learned Academies. Established in 1969, we provide independent and authoritative advice, including to government, to ensure ethical, historical and cultural perspectives inform discussions regarding Australia’s future challenges and opportunities. We promote and recognise excellence in the humanities disciplines. The Academy plays a unique role in promoting international engagement and research collaboration and investing in the next generation of humanities researchers. Our elected Fellowship comprises 640 scholars, leaders and practitioners across the humanities disciplines of culture, history, languages, linguistics, philosophy, religion, archaeology and heritage. Australian Academy of the Humanities Annual Report 2019–20 This document is a true and accurate account of the activities and abridged fi nancial report of the Australian Academy of the Humanities for the fi nancial year 2019–20, in accordance with the reporting requirements of the Academy’s Royal Charter and By-laws, and for the conditions of grants made by the Australian Government under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (Cth). Funding for the production of this report and a number of the activities described herein has been provided by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. © 2020 Australian Academy of the Humanities All images © Australian Academy of the Humanities unless otherwise indicated. Editor: Emeritus Professor Graham Tulloch faha Editorial support: Liz Bradtke and Josephine Ponsford Designer: Gillian Cosgrove Printer: TBC CONTENTS 03 From the President 05 From the Executive Director 06 Preserving and Advancing Humanities Knowledge 08 Inspiring Excellence 09 New Fellows 16 Informing and Influencing 18 Leading and Championing 21 Promoting Ideas, Skills and Creativity 24 Treasurer’s Report 25 Abridged Financial Statements 26 List of Fellows 30 Governance and Operations FROM THE PRESIDENT MY FINAL YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN and culture—of Australia’s First Nations Peoples—to AN EXTRAORDINARY ONE, TO SAY THE LEAST. provide a human-centred response to the major social, cultural and environmental challenges of our time. Following the bushfi re tragedy that devastated large parts of the country in early 2020, we were then faced While we have faced many challenges this year there with managing the broad and deep impacts of COVID-19 has also been much to celebrate, the details of which as the pandemic made its mark on every aspect of our can be found in this report. I would like to single out in professional and personal lives. I know many of you particular our annual Symposium, Humanising the Future, have been deeply aff ected by the ongoing crisis and it which was a true highlight of 2019 and the culmination is my hope that the coming months off er some relief of a wonderful year of events marking our 50th and respite. anniversary. The Symposium itself off ered an incredibly rich and varied program of activities with over 30 Despite the disruptions caused by these events, speakers from a variety of sectors and disciplines. the Academy has remained committed to its role Throughout the year, we hosted an additional 18 major of advocating, promoting and strengthening the events and sponsored eight disciplinary association humanities in Australia and internationally with a events attracting just under 2300 participants in total. particular focus on raising awareness of the ways in This was the largest number of events hosted in a single which cultural, social, historical, and linguistic expertise year in the Academy’s history and it was a true honour can contribute to the management of major crises. to be President during this historic and exciting time. Our call for pandemic humanities expertise to inform As my fi nal year as President draws to a close, I wish policy directions yielded over 130 responses, a clear to express my warmest thanks to all Academy Fellows demonstration of the richness and strength of our who have served on Council over the past three years research community, and the collaborative and during my term as President. It has been a great interdisciplinary nature of the work being undertaken privilege to work with such outstanding colleagues. in the humanities. The database has informed our I especially extend my gratitude to all members of advice to government and we will continue to draw the Secretariat—Liz Bradtke, Kylie Brass, Julia Evans, upon this information in our policy advice as we work Kate Fielding, Iva Glisic, Jeremy Lasek, Duncan Miller, towards a solution. Josephine Ponsford and Ashleigh Richards—for all their This year has also seen some major disruptions and wonderful support and tireless commitment to the changes to the research and higher education sector. Academy and its work. I would like to especially express On 19 June the Federal Government announced my deepest appreciation and sincere thanks to Tina their proposed changes to university fee structures Parolin for her unfailing assistance, invaluable guidance, prompting widespread criticism from not only the wise counsel and good humour—all of which has made humanities community but from across the research my term as President such a rewarding and enriching sector. Our statement made it clear that these reforms experience. My fi nal thanks are to all Fellows for your jeopardise and misrepresent the skills and knowledge engagement with the Academy over these past three required for Australia’s future jobs agenda and pose years. I look forward to us all continuing to play a role a grave risk to our social fabric. The need for the in tackling the future challenges for the humanities in humanities will be felt more than ever before. As we these uncertain times. move through this uncertain century, educating our citizens in a broad and wide knowledge of culture Professor Joy Damousi fassa faha and the humanities will remain vital to understanding Australia’s place in a rapidly shifting global world, as well as comprehending the specifi cs of Australia’s history AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 03 OUR VISION OUR PURPOSE For a tolerant, inclusive and clever To ensure the humanities in Australia Australia, enriched and enabled by a thrive and excel, because a better future deep appreciation of the histories, for all humanity depends on ethical, ideas, and cultures of our people, and historical, creative and cultural knowledge of people around the world. and expertise. OUR OBJECTIVES O1 O2 O3 O4 O5 Preserve and advance Inspire excellence Inform and influence Lead and champion Promote ideas, skills humanities knowledge and creativity Ensure that outstanding Be trusted and influential Promote the value and Promote the advancement research across the advisors to government, benefits of research and Empower communities, of Australian society by humanities is recognised, the media, and the teaching in the humanities. the economy and society investing in humanities encouraged and celebrated research, education and Be the focal point for the through the sharing of research capacity through our Fellowship cultural sectors, through Australian humanities cultural and creative and encouraging election, grants and awards evidence-led policy community, including those knowledge and practice, global engagement programs, and public advice and development. studying, working or trained and the skills required for and collaboration for engagement initiatives. Drive knowledge-sharing in the humanities. a diverse, adaptable and researchers. between government, creative workforce. research, industry and cultural sectors. OUR FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO FULFIL THE ACADEMY’S VISION AND AUSTRALIAN PURPOSE, AND TO MEET OUR OBJECTIVES, ACADEMY OF STRATEGIC OUR STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUSES ON FIVE THE HUMANITIES STRATEGIES: PLAN S1 / SHAPE A MORE DIVERSE FELLOWSHIP S2 / EXPAND ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH S3 / INCREASE VISIBILITY ON ISSUES OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE S4 / RECONCILE AND RECOGNISE S5 / INVEST IN ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITY 2020 Championing a humanised future for Australia 2025 04 AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF THE HUMANITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2019–20 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE ACADEMY’S 2019-20 ANNUAL REPORT COMES TO YOU Our new look Annual Report is designed to showcase AT A REMARKABLE TIME IN OUR HISTORY. the Academy’s major achievements as they align with the objectives of our Strategic Plan. In rethinking the Amongst the many disruptions and challenges of the structure and purpose of the Annual Report, we have past year, and on the back of the success of the 50th decided to produce the obituaries of Fellows separately anniversary celebrations, the Academy launched its new to this publication. Recognising that our vales and Strategic Plan 2020-25. obituaries are significant public historical records, we The Plan—developed in consultation with Council, the are seeking to release them in a more timely manner Fellowship and Secretariat—has galvanised our purpose rather than featuring them in this report. The Annual and intent for the next five years. It challenges us to Report will continue to function as a governance consider what constitutes humanities expertise in 21st document