Highlights from the 2025 Churchill Fellows Convention
Connecting Fellows Across the Nation
Held in Melbourne and hosted by the Churchill Fellows Association of Victoria, the 2025 National Convention of Churchill Fellows brought together Fellows new and old for a weekend of connection, reflection and celebration. Over three days, attendees enjoyed four events that drove some lively “Churchill chatter”, poignant and thoughtful presentations, and a special gala dinner marking the Trust’s 60th anniversary.
The program showcased the breadth of Fellowship impact across Australia. Dr Susan Carland opened the Convention with a powerful exploration of moral alchemy—challenging attendees to examine complexity, legacy and the courage required to create meaningful social change. Morning speakers followed with equally compelling insights: Bernie Shakeshaft spoke of the transformative power of trust and persistence when working with vulnerable young people; Polly Britten highlighted global strategies to strengthen pathways for women in the trades; and Chris Bush demonstrated how AI can be adopted strategically to make classrooms more equitable, engaging, and future-ready.
Panel discussions expanded these themes further. Ms Shona Reid led a powerful yarning circle with First Nations leaders Gina Milgate and Lauren French, who shared grounded perspectives on culturally responsive leadership, deep listening and reframing deficit narratives. The second panel, Giving Back, moderated by Ms Alex Sloan AM and featuring Simone Carson AM and Marcus Crook, explored the responsibility Fellows hold to contribute beyond their own project outcomes.
Afternoon speakers, including Tim Day, Kate Fitz-Gibbon, David Symons and Professor Margie Danchin, offered insights ranging from homicide investigation and justice reform to humour in health care and vaccine confidence and illustrating once again the extraordinary diversity of Churchill Fellows’ expertise.
A Fellow’s View: Connecting Across Continents
Among the attendees was 2023 UK Fellow Rosie Richards, who reflected on how energising it was to see Fellows from so many disciplines come together with honesty and curiosity. She described the Convention as “an inspiring celebration of innovation that highlighted just how important work is happening across Australia and beyond.” Rosie noted the strong sense of shared purpose in the room—particularly during sessions that embraced complexity or challenged long-held assumptions. Whether exploring AI ethics, inclusive education, youth justice or First Nations leadership, she found the conversations “refreshingly courageous and deeply human”.
Rosie’s reflections echoed a sentiment felt widely throughout the weekend: that the Convention is one of the few places where such varied expertise sits side-by-side, united by a commitment to public good.
National Convention Dinner
The National Convention Dinner was a highlight of the weekend. Keynote speaker, the Hon. Jeremy Soames, grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, spoke with warmth and elegance about his admiration for the Australian Fellows and the extraordinary impact they have created over six decades. His reflections on his grandfather’s legacy, combined with his deep appreciation for the Fellowship community, created a moving sense of continuity and purpose. Guests were also treated to a captivating performance by Markiyan Melnychenko, whose violin playing set the tone for a memorable evening.
Dinner speakers Nick Whyman and Jacob Miller added their own insight and energy, sharing stories of leadership, resilience and the transformative power of community. Their contributions rounded out an evening that honoured both the history of the Churchill Fellowships and the ambitious, community-driven work of today’s Fellows.
As part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations, the Trust also produced a special 60th Anniversary Edition Churchill Trust Broadsheet, filled with stories from across the decades, a historical timeline, and even an alternate convention menu inspired by 1965. The edition also revisited the remarkable story of Operation G. On Sunday, 28 February 1965—just weeks after Sir Winston Churchill’s passing—more than 10 million Australians took part in a nationwide doorknock, raising £2,312,749 (equivalent to $4.2 million today). This extraordinary act of public generosity created the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and the enduring legacy of the Churchill Fellowships.
Convention Tours and Closing Reflections
Sunday offered a final chance to connect, unwind and explore Melbourne together. The morning opened with a relaxed networking breakfast, giving Fellows space to speak freely, share ideas sparked during the Convention and forge new partnerships. From there, participants headed out on one of five curated tours — each highlighting a different thread of Victorian culture, innovation and landscape.
Some chose to wander heritage gardens, learning from the botanists and custodians who care for our green spaces. Others stepped inside the imposing Supreme Court to explore its history, architecture and the practice of justice. The creativity of glass artistry, the urgency of frontline trauma care, and the flavour of regional producers rounded out a set of tours as diverse as the Fellowship community itself.
Returning to the closing lunch, Fellows gathered one last time to reflect on what they had learned and where the conversations might lead. It was a warm finish to a thoughtful and energising weekend — a reminder that the Churchill Fellowship is not a moment in time, but an ongoing movement of people driven by curiosity, courage and public impact.
A fitting end to a remarkable Convention.
