The 2023 Renate Kamener Oration with Catherine Liddle

The Renate Kamener Oration is our annual fundraiser for the Renate Kamener Indigenous Scholarship. Each year, the scholarship supports an Indigenous student to achieve their tertiary education ambitions and call Ormond College home while studying at the University of Melbourne.
We heard first from Guruji Wagner who gave an outstanding student reflection, and then Professor Barry Judd, who happens to be Catherine’s uncle, who gave some reflections about the upcoming referendum on the Voice. We were thrilled to welcome Catherine Liddle, Chief Executive Officer, SNAICC National Voice for our Children as our 2023 speaker. An Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia, Catherine has a strong background in senior management positions with First Nations organisations. Catherine’s motivation has always been to drive change that leads to positive outcomes and options for First Nations people. Over the past 10 years, she has led multidisciplinary teams, overseen workplace transformations, and advocated for policy reform.
Catherine gave a personal and at times frank oration which was firmly rooted in her country and people, with a natural reference to caring for children given her important work leading SNAICC - National Voice for our Children. Thanks to all who attended and supported this event.