Jennifer Robinson
The Oxley College Centre for Ethics is the home of ethical inquiry and critical thinking at Oxley.
This year will be delivering an ambitious program of events for both our students and the local community in the Southern Highlands. These events will feature distinguished speakers and leaders from diverse fields, including philanthropy, higher education, non-governmental organisations and industry. You can find out more here: Oxley College Centre for Ethics – Oxley College
Free Speech, Human Rights & Democracy
Jennifer Robinson
Jennifer Robinson is an Australian human rights lawyer at Doughty Street Chambers in London, renowned for her expertise in human rights, media, public, and international law. She has been a vocal advocate for free speech, warning since 2010 about the implications of the U.S. government’s investigation into WikiLeaks. In 2024, she played a pivotal role in securing Julian Assange’s release, allowing him to return to Australia.
Robinson’s work often involves advising governments, individuals, and organisations on international law and human rights issues, including representing the BBC World Service against Iran’s persecution of BBC Persian journalists. She has provided expert evidence to the UN inquiry into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and acted for the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a murdered Maltese journalist.
In her TED talk, “Courage is Contagious,” she shares the story of Benny Wenda, the leader of the West Papua liberation movement, highlighting her commitment to helping those who stand up against powerful interests. Robinson also made history in 2018 as the youngest woman to appear before the International Court of Justice, successfully arguing for the right to self-determination in the Chagos Islands case.
Her legal work focuses on human rights, free speech, and freedom of information, advising major media organisations like The New York Times, CNN, and Bloomberg. She has also successfully challenged anti-protest injunctions and had the UK government’s fracking policy declared unlawful.
When: Thursday 20 February 2025, 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Where: PCC, Oxley College
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CXUOT
More information: ethics@oxley.nsw.edu.au