Since 1984
The annual ADC Gandel Oration in Melbourne and Sydney is a highlight of the year. Since 1984 the ADC has hosted international statesmen, academics, judges, Rabbis and politicians who have addressed complex human rights issues with insight, expertise and erudition.
Our Orators
2019
Tzipi Livni
Tzipi Livni, has been described as the most powerful woman in Israeli politics since Golda Meir, and was chosen by Time Magazine in 2007 as one of the most influential people in the world. In 2011, she was named one of “150 Women Who Shake the World” by Newsweek magazine. In a career spanning 20 years, she served with four Prime Minister and held such posts as Acting Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Foreign Affairs Minister among other cabinet roles. At the end of 2005, Mrs Livni, together with the late Ariel Sharon and other prominent political figures in Israel, formed the Kadima Party. As Foreign Affairs Minister, she led the round of peace negotiations with the Palestinians in nearly a decade and became the face of the peace process in Israeli politics. She was also the leader of the Kadima party and won the 2009 elections. As a member of Sharon’s inner circle, she helped plan Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005. Founder and leader of the Hatnua party, prior to the 2015 elections, Livni joined forces with Labour leader Isaac Herzog to form the Zionist Union alliance. The new party won 24 seats, second only to Likud.
2018
Ambassador Dore Gold
Ambassador Gold was the eleventh Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations (1997-1999). In January 2014, he was appointed as an external advisor on international issues to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s first term, and in the capacity of foreign policy advisor, Ambassador Gold served as an envoy to the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf States. Ambassador Gold also served as an advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Ambassador Gold was a member of the Israeli delegation at the Wye River negotiations between Israel and the PLO outside of Washington. He negotiated the Note for the Record, which supplemented the 1997 Hebron Protocol and in 1999 concluded the negotiations with the U.S., Lebanon, Syria and France for the creation of the Monitoring Group for Southern Lebanon. In 1991, he served as an advisor to the Israeli delegation to the Madrid Peace Conference. From 1985 to 1996, he was a senior research associate at the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Tel Aviv University, where he was Director of the U.S. Foreign and Defense
In June 2015, Dore Gold left the Jerusalem Center, which he had led since 2000, to serve as Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until October 2016, an appointment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his tenure at the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Gold advanced policies that strengthened Israel on a global level – from Africa and Asia to the Mid- East and the Western world.
Ambassador Gold has written books and articles on the Middle East, including The Rise of Nuclear Iran: How Tehran Defies the West (Regnery, 2009), The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam, the West, and the Future of the Holy City (Regnery, 2007), Tower of Babble: How the United Nations Has Fueled Global Chaos (2004), Hatred’s Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism (Regnery, 2003), and U.S. Military Strategy in the Middle East (Tel Aviv: Ministry of Defense Publications, 1993). His articles have appeared in Asahi Shinbun, Commentary, Daily Telegraph, Die Zeit, Ha’aretz, Jerusalem Post, Le Monde, The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.
2017
Ambassador Dennis Ross
2016
Dan Mariaschin
2015
Rabbi Abraham Cooper
2014
Ambassador John Bolton
2013
Prof Deborah E. Lipstadt
To see a full list of our previous Orators please click on the read more button.
2012
General Gal Hirsch
General Gal Hirsch, Human Rights, International Law
2011
USC Shoah Foundation for Visual History and Education Executive Director, Dr Stephen Smith, MBE PhD. D.Law. A video of the oration can be found on Youtube
2010
Professor Irwin Cotler, Canadian MP and Human Rights Lawyer spoke on Contemporary Antisemitism: What we can do.
2009
Dr Charles Small is the Founder and Director of the Yale Initiative spoke on Iran and Global Antisemitism.
2008
Professor Anne Bayefsky, human rights activist spoke on Human rights as a vehicle for antisemitism.
2007
Dr Martin Indyk, Director of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Washington spoke on Israel’s turbulent future in the Middle East.
2006
Gareth Evans, President and Chief Executive of the International Crisis Group and Dr John Yu, Pediatrician and campaigner for children’s human rights
2005
Professor Naomi Chazan, Former deputy speaker of the Knesset
2004
Chief Rabbi Cyril Harris, Chief Rabbi of the Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa
2003
The Rt Hon The Lord Woolf of Barnes, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
2002
PANEL Panelists: Mr Julian Burnside QC; The Reverend Tim Costello; The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH; Mr Sam Lipski AM; Associate Professor Robert Manne
2001
Rabbi David Rosen, President International Council of Christians & Jews
2000
Mr Alan Gold, Novelist
1999
The Hon Bob Hawke AC, Former Prime Minister of Australia
1998
Prof Irwin Cotler, Human Rights Lawyer & Mr Jose Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Laureate
1997
Mr Stuart Littlemore QC
1996
Mr Gerard Henderson, Executive Director of the Sydney Institute
1995
Mr Sam Lipski & Ms Helen Suzman
1994
Mr Bryce Courtenay, Novelist
1993
Mr Ron Castan AM QC, Commissioner of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission of Australia & Mr Patrick Dodson
1992
Ms Moira Rayner, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity Victoria & The Hon Justice Marcus Einfeld, Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
1991
Prof Peter Baume & Mr Gerard Henderson
1990
Dr Eugene J Fisher, Executive Director of Catholic Jewish Relations for the Bishops of America
1989
The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH, Former Prime Minister of Australia
1988
The Hon Justic Marcus Einfeld, Judge of the Federal court of Australia & Ms Patricia J O’Shane
1987
The Rev Prof Robert Anderson, Chairman of the Council for Christians and Jews (Victoria)
1986
His Excellency Dr Davis McCaughey, Governor of Victoria
1985
Prof Ronald Sackville, Past Chairman NSW Law Reform Commission
1984
The Hon. Mr. Justice Michael Kirby, Judge of Supreme Court & Court of Appeal of NSW