Changing the public conversation about ageism in Australia

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About the presenter

Robert Tickner AO

Robert Tickner AO grew up in the country town of Forster on the north coast of NSW and was elected to the Sydney City Council when he was 25 serving on the council until he was elected the Australian Parliament in 1984 as the Federal Member for Hughes. He is a former Principal Solicitor for the NSW Aboriginal Legal Service where he worked for 6 years in Redfern until he was elected to the national parliament. He holds degrees in law and economics.

Robert served as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs in the Hawke and Keating Governments and was deeply involved in passage of the Native Title Act, establishment of the national Land Fund, the call for the Stolen Generations Enquiry, the initiation of Process of Reconciliation, the creation of the office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and is Australia’s longest serving Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

He was CEO of Australian Red Cross between 2005 and 2015 and then Under Secretary General of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation. He has published two books. The first titled “Taking a Stand” was about his political work as Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and the second was called “Ten Doors Down” and is the story of his adoption reunion which is also available as an audio book.