The Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann AM

The Honourable Dr Meredith Burgmann AM is one of Australia’s most respected progressive voices — an early feminist and anti-racism activist, academic, senior parliamentarian and accomplished author.

Dr Burgmann served as President of the New South Wales Legislative Council, becoming the longest-serving female presiding officer in Australia. First elected to the NSW Parliament in 1991, she brought intellectual rigour, independence and principled leadership to public life. In 1999, she was elected President of the Legislative Council, where she modernised parliamentary traditions and championed procedural fairness, transparency and reform.

As Chair of the Parliamentary Privileges and Ethics Committee, she led a high-profile inquiry that was widely acknowledged for its fairness and integrity. Throughout her parliamentary career, she earned a reputation as an independent and thoughtful member of the NSW Parliament.

Dr Burgmann’s commitment to social justice began at Sydney University, where she was active in the Vietnam War and anti-apartheid movements. In 1971, she was imprisoned after protesting during the Springboks rugby tour by running onto the Sydney Cricket Ground — a defining moment in Australia’s protest history. She later completed her PhD at Macquarie University and lectured in industrial relations and politics for 18 years, becoming the first woman President of the NSW Academics’ Union.

Following her parliamentary career, Dr Burgmann served on the City of Sydney Council (2008–2012) and was the Labor Party’s first female candidate for Lord Mayor of Sydney. She has also served as President of the Australian Council for International Development and as a consultant to the United Nations Development Program. She is currently an Ambassador for the Sydney Swans.

A prolific writer, Dr Burgmann has authored and edited four books. Her publications include Green Bans, Red Union (co-authored with Verity Burgmann), The Ernies Book, Dirty Secrets: Our ASIO Files, and Radicals: Remembering the Sixties (with Nadia Wheatley). She has also written extensively on women’s rights, industrial relations and environmental issues.

A leading figure in Australia’s feminist movement since the 1960s, Dr Burgmann was a founding member of the National Pay Equity Coalition, the Campaign Against Discrimination and Emily’s List. She created the now-famous Ernies Awards for sexist remarks, which continue to attract national attention nearly three decades on. She has served as Patron or board member of numerous organisations including Women in Film and Television, Breast Cancer Network Australia, the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance and Jarrah House.

Deeply engaged in both local and global communities, Dr Burgmann has served on the boards of UNSW, the Sydney Peace Prize Foundation, Labour History, the Mick Young Scholarship Trust and many others. She is President of the Zimbabwe Information Centre and a Life Member of both the National Tertiary Education Union and the Australian Labor Party.

In recognition of her service, Dr Burgmann has been awarded the Centenary Medal (2000), the Ordem de Timor-Leste Medalha (2016), and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2020.

As a speaker, Dr Burgmann is dynamic, informed and engaging. She addresses contemporary issues including politics, feminism, equality, international aid and development, and the evolving role of activism in public life. A regular contributor to radio and television current affairs programs, she brings historical depth, sharp analysis and a compelling personal perspective to every audience.