How can ancient Greece and Rome inform public policy today?

Join the Australian Academy of the Humanities, The Australia and New Zealand School of Government & ANU Centre for Classical Studies for How can ancient Greece and Rome inform public policy today? delivered by Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE. In this talk, Professor Holmes-Henderson will connect evidence from the ancient world with contemporary public policymaking. Based on her recent (open access) book Classics and Public Policy: perspectives from the UK (Routledge, 2026), Arlene will shine a light on how lessons from the past can inform future decision-making by policy professionals. From migration to cybersecurity, from climate change to education, Arlene uncovers a new vocabulary with which Arts and Humanities researchers can describe the value of their evidence. Moving beyond 'impact' and 'knowledge exchange' as supplementary activities, Arlene advocates for policy engagement training as an integral component of postgraduate education and she showcases an award-winning new Masters module at Durham University which does exactly this.

Professor Holmes-Henderson will join Rowan Fox (Deputy Commissioner for Small Business, ATO), Allan Behm (Special Advisor, International Political and Security Affairs, The Australia Institute) and Chris Hewett (General Manager of Heavy Industry and Local Manufacturing, DISR) for a discussion panel following the lecture, moderated by Professor Caillan Davenport FAHA. Event DetailsAustralian China in the World Lecture Theatre Building 188 Fellows Lane ACTON 2601 Weds 18 November 2026 6.00 - 8.00pm Guests are invited to light refreshments following the lecture.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation plan, please contact the event organiser.