November 9, 2026
A HINGE OF HISTORY: TIPPING POINTS & EXISTENTIAL RISKS
Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026, 8.30 am for 9.00 am – 5.00 pm AEDT
Venue: Government House, Sydney: in person by invitation, and live-streaming
Program: Brochure (8 MB pdf)
The Forum is held under the auspices of Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales. The Royal Society of New South Wales acknowledges the generous support of Her Excellency and the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Summary
Derek Parfit writes: “We live during the hinge of history… If we act wisely in the next few centuries, humanity will survive its most dangerous and decisive period… What now matters most is that we avoid ending human history.” (On What Matters, 2011 vol 2.
Humanity may be entering a period in which actions of a single generation shape the long term trajectory of civilisation. Climate instability, rapid technological transformation, geopolitical tension, and social fragmentation are converging in ways that may constitute a “hinge of history”.
The RSNSW Forum brings together leading thinkers across science, medicine, technology, governance, economics and philosophy to examine whether we are indeed at such a hinge point—and what this means for Australia’s future prosperity, security, and resilience.
Welcome, Opening and Keynote Address
Official Opening and Governor’s Address
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales
Welcome and Acknowledgements
Emeritus Professor Christina Slade FRSN
President, Royal Society of New South Wales
Introduction to the Keynote Speaker
Emeritus Professor Huw Price FBA FAHA FRSN
Emeritus Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy, Trinity College, Cambridge, UK.
Keynote Presentation
Dr Toby Ord
Senior Researcher, Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, Oxford University.
Audience Q&A
Moderated by Emeritus Professor Huw Price
Session 1: When Technology Changes History: Who Shapes What Comes Next?
Introduction: Professor Simon Ringer FRSN FTSE FIEAust
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Infrastructure), University of Sydney
Mr David Thodey AO FTSE FAICD
Chancellor, University of Sydney
Ms Patty Gilchrist
APAC Research Partnerships & Business Development Lead, Google
Dr Jenny Tran
General Manager of Product, Xero
Mr Jason Collins
CEO, European Australian Business Council, and Honorary Consul, Consulate of Belgium in Sydney
Audience Q&A
Moderated by Professor Simon Ringer
Session 2: Climate Change: Risks, Responses and a World Under Pressure
Introduction: Scientia Professor Matthew England FAA FAGU FAMOS
Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for our Future Oceans, UNSW Sydney
Scientia Associate Professor Negin Nazarian
Deputy Director, ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, UNSW Sydney
Professor Ollie Jay FACSM
Professor of Heat and Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Dr Megan Evans
Senior Lecturer, School of Business, UNSW Canberra
Dr Timothy Neal
Senior Scientia Fellow, Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney
Audience Q&A
Moderated by Scientia Professor Matthew England
Session 3: Health, Medicine and Human Futures
Introduction: Professor Catharine Coleborne FRSN FAHA FASSA SFHEA
Professor of History, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences, University of Newcastle
Professor Ainsley Newson FRSN
Professor of Bioethics, Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney
Professor Julie Leask AO
Professorial Research Fellow, Infectious Diseases Institute and School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Dr Jamie Dunk
Director, St James Institute
Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A
Moderated by Professor Sally Cripps
Session 4: Governance at the Hinge of History – Geopolitics, Economic Transformation and Societal Stability
Introduction: Professor Sean Brawley FRSN PFHEA
Honorary Professor of History, University of Wollongong
Professor Michael Wesley
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement), University of Melbourne
Dr Aruna Sathanapally
Chief Executive Officer, Grattan Institute
Audience Q&A
Moderated by Professor Sean Brawley
Closing Session
Introduction: Professor Merlin Crossley AM FRSN FAHMS
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality), UNSW Sydney
Professor Catharine Coleborne FRSN FAHA FASSA SFHEA
Professor Simon Ringer FRSN FTSE FIEAust
Closing Remarks: Emeritus Professor Christina Slade FRSN FRSA
President and Forum Chair, Royal Society of NSW
