UNAA NSW - United Nations Association of Australia New South Wales Division

A Year of Commemoration and Commitment

UNAA (NSW) Celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the United Nations

In 2025, the United Nations Association of Australia (NSW) proudly delivered a program of events to honour the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Across four major milestones - from a reception at Government House, to a landmark conference and gala dinner, and finally a solemn wreath-laying ceremony on United Nations Day - we gathered government leaders, diplomats, academics, young people, peacekeepers, civil society, and UN supporters to reflect on eight decades of global cooperation and Australia’s role in shaping peace.

Our celebrations were united by a single purpose: to reaffirm the values of the UN Charter and Australia’s commitment to building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

Government House Reception

The UN at 80 celebrations began in July with a special reception hosted at Government House, generously supported by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales.

Guests included leaders from government, academia, the diplomatic community, partner organisations, and the UNAA NSW Executive.

This event served as a formal launch of the 80th anniversary program, recognising Australia’s historic role in the drafting of the UN Charter and reaffirming our shared commitment to multilateralism.

UN at 80: Shaping Our Future Together Conference

On 22 October 2025, UNAA (NSW) hosted the UN at 80: Shaping Our Future Together conference at the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sydney – a full day of reflection, challenge, and hopeful, practical discussion about the UN’s next chapter.

The day opened with a Welcome to Country and remarks from Dr Patricia Jenkings, President of UNAA NSW, who located the conversation in Australia’s long-standing role in shaping and supporting the UN system. Speaking on behalf of the United Nations, Miklos Gaspar, Director of the United Nations Information Centre for South-East Asia, premiered the Secretary-General’s official UN Day message and reminded participants that the UN remains “a living promise” in a fragmenting world.

Keynote addresses from Ambassador Gabriele Visentin, the European Union’s representative to Australia, and Senator the Hon. Penny Wong (pictured), Australia’s Foreign Minister, explored how middle powers like Australia and regional partners in the Indo-Pacific can strengthen multilateralism, reform the UN system, and defend the rules-based international order in an era of conflict, climate risk, and disinformation.

Across the day, thematic sessions and panels examined:

Human rights and dignity – with Leanne Smith, CEO of the Australian Human Rights Commission, reflecting on 80 years of human rights progress, the universality of the UDHR, and the need for a national Human Rights Act in Australia.
Peacebuilding and Australia’s evolving role – featuring Maj Gen (retd) Tim Ford AO, Angela Robinson, and a video address from Lt Gen Cheryl Pearce AM CSC, highlighting the pressures on UN peace operations and the importance of capability, partnerships, and leadership in complex conflicts.
Media integrity and disinformation – with Professor Peter Greste and Professor Monica Attard OAM, moderated by Laurie Patton, examining the erosion of trust in information, the risks of mis- and disinformation, and the role of independent media in sustaining democracy.
The role of universities in shaping global citizens – moderated by Professor Simon Barrie and featuring Professor Barney Glover AO, Professor Attila Brungs, Iris Brown, and Anthony Downhill, exploring how universities build critical thinking, epistemic fluency, and student voice in an age of AI, polarisation, and constrained funding.
Global health and “health without borders” – with Professor Esperanza Martinez and Dr Selina Namchee Lo discussing diplomacy, international health cooperation, and the systems needed to protect global wellbeing.
Sustainability and innovation – a conversation with Professor Veena Sahajwalla AO, Dr Vanessa Pirotta, and Fiona Reynolds, moderated by Andrew Petersen, on circular economies, biodiversity, ocean health, and the role of innovation and public engagement in meeting the SDGs.
Global trends in peace and conflict – a briefing from Steve Killelea AM on the latest data from the Global Peace Index and what it reveals about rising instability and opportunities for preventive action.
Human rights at a crossroads – with Hugh de Kretser, Justine Nolan, and Thomas Mayo, moderated by Ben Lee, looking ahead to the next decade of human rights challenges and the importance of domestic credibility for international leadership.

The day concluded with “The UN at a Crossroads: Leadership, Relevance and the Road Ahead”, a plenary featuring Ryan Neelam, The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, Leanne Smith, and Dr Courtney Fung, moderated by Gary Quinlan AO. Drawing together the themes of the conference, the panel emphasised that reform must be matched by narrative – the UN must both change and clearly communicate its value in a world impatient for results.

As Quinlan reminded participants, the task ahead is urgent but not hopeless:

“Action requires leadership. The UN was never created to take us to heaven – it was created to save us from hell.”

UN at 80 Gala Dinner – United in Action

That evening, the UN at 80 Gala Dinner was held in the same venue, the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sydney, transforming the conference conversations into a celebratory, fundraising occasion that honoured partners, volunteers, and supporters of UNAA NSW.

Hosted by MC Richelle Harrison Plesse from SBS World News, the program opened with a warm welcome and President’s Address from Dr Patricia Jenkings, who thanked sponsors, speakers, and guests, and reflected on the themes that had emerged throughout the day.

Guests then heard from Gala Dinner sponsors, including representatives of Community Bank Darling Square and TOAST Strategic Brand Agency, whose support – alongside partners such as DFAT, SBS, UN agencies, community leaders, and local businesses – made the event possible.

The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for International Development and Minister for Small Business. Drawing on her personal story and her experience in countering violent extremism, Dr Aly spoke about inclusion, community resilience, and the role of education and youth engagement in building a more peaceful and cohesive society – themes that resonated strongly with the conference’s focus on dignity, cooperation, and shared responsibility.

Between courses, guests enjoyed a musical performance by soprano Annalise McKeown, accompanied by pianist Cara Eccleston, followed by a live auction and raffle.

In her closing remarks, Dr Jenkings again thanked attendees, sponsors, and volunteers, and invited everyone to remain “United in Action” – carrying the spirit of the conference and dinner back into their workplaces, communities, and institutions.

United Nations Day Commemorative Wreath Laying Service

The Cenotaph, Martin Place - 24 October 2025

For more than 70 years, UNAA NSW has held a United Nations Day commemorative service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place. This year’s 80th anniversary service brought together a distinguished assembly of diplomats, state officials, peacekeepers, defence force personnel, UN veterans, and members of the public.

The ceremony followed the formal order of service, including an Acknowledgement of Country, the UN Secretary-General's message, official wreath-laying, the Last Post, and the national anthem.

United Nations Day Address

The keynote address was delivered by General the Honourable David Hurley AC CVO DSC (Retd), former Governor-General of Australia and former Chief of the Australian Defence Force. Drawing on the UN Charter and Australia’s long-standing role in peacekeeping, General Hurley reminded us:

That the world continues to face conflict and displacement on a scale unseen since 1945.
That “the UN has never been more needed. Our values have never been more relevant. And the needs have never been greater.”
That more than 80,000 Australian peacekeepers have served in over 60 UN and international missions since 1947.
That the Sustainable Development Goals represent the modern expression of the UN’s founding commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity.

He concluded with a call to collective responsibility:

“Let the Cenotaph be a stark reminder of the consequences of our continual failure to act… We all wish to pass on to our children and the next generations a more peaceful world.”

A Legacy of Service, A Future of Shared Purpose

UNAA NSW’s UN at 80 celebrations honour both the achievements and the unfinished work of the United Nations. From peacekeeping and disaster relief, to human rights, sustainable development and global citizenship, the UN’s mission is as crucial today as it was in 1945.

Across these events - from Government House, to our national conference, gala dinner, and the solemn UN Day service - we reaffirmed:

Australia’s deep and historic connection to the UN Charter
The importance of multilateralism in a world facing conflict, insecurity, and disinformation
Our responsibility to act with conviction, cooperation, and compassion

As we look beyond the 80th anniversary, UNAA NSW remains committed to informing, inspiring, and engaging the people of New South Wales in the work of the United Nations. Together, we continue the promise made in 1945:

to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world for all.