Sarah Burr – Senior Adviser, Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet

Linda Botterill – Professor, School of Government & Policy, UC, FASSA

Carolyn Hendriks – Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

Deborah Lupton – Professor, Faculty of Arts & Design, UC, FASSA

 

Michael Wesley – Professor & Dean, The College of Asia & the Pacific, ANU

 

British MP Michael Gove recently said, “I think the people have had enough of experts with organisations from acronyms saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently wrong”. With integrity and trust in institutions at an all-time low, his comments reflect a society feeling fed up with experts who, they think, are out-of-touch.

 

This forum seeks to examine how experts can effect positive change and remain relevant in a post-truth society. What can we do to ensure those with the power to make the decisions that will shape our future are equipped with the necessary knowledge and research (particularly in relation to the social sciences) to give our nation the best shot and restore public confidence?