Regulating unreason

Conspiracy theories, quack cures and demonisation of ‘the other’ have always been with us, but 2020 has demonstrated what can happen when the era of social media collides with a global pandemic and an accompanying economic crisis. As conspiracy theories and fake news expand and coalesce, feeding on uncertainty and fear, a bitter US election campaign has amplified the clamorous voices of unreason.

How should regulators and other public managers, charged with maintaining social order, protecting community well-being and implementing well-evidenced public policy, act in the face of this tidal wave?

This final webinar for 2020 brought together the collective wisdom of three senior regulatory leaders about what regulatory tools might help us deal with the challenges of unreason in these extraordinary times.

This webinar features:

Luke Cornelius, Assistant Commissioner, North West Region

Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius joined Victoria Police in 2003 after 14 years with the Australian Federal Police. Previous roles include leading the now-Professional Standards Command and Southern Metro Region before heading up Victoria Police’s response to the VEOHRC Review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Luke is an alum of ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration as well as a qualified lawyer and has received numerous awards including, the Australian Police Medal, the National Police Service Medal and a UN Medal for service in East Timor. He was the founding CEO of the Police Federation of Australia and served as National Secretary of the Australian Federal Police Association.

Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner

Julie Inman Grant is Australia’s eSafety Commissioner. In this role, Julie leads the world’s first government agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online. She also spearheaded eSafety’s image-based abuse portal, launched in October 2017 –a world-first government led initiative that provides support and removal options to victims. Julie has extensive experience in the non-profit and government sectorsand spent two decades working in senior public policy and safety roles in the tech industry at Microsoft, Twitter and Adobe.The Commissioner’s career began in Washington DC, working in the US Congress and the non-profit sector before taking on a role at Microsoft.

Julie’s experience at Microsoft spanned 17 years, serving as one of the company’s first and longest-standing government relations professionals, ultimately in the role of Global Safety Director for safety policy and outreach. At Twitter, she set up and drove the company’s policy, safety & philanthropy programs across Australia, New Zealand & Southeast Asia. As Commissioner, Julie plays an important global role in as Chair of the Child Dignity Alliance’s Technical Working Group and as a Board Member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance. She was recently designated one of Australia’s most influential women by the Australian Financial Review.

Dr Sandro Demaio, CEO Victorian Health Promotion Foundation

Dr Sandro Demaio is a medical doctor and globally-renowned public health expert and advocate.

Sandro previously worked for the World Health Organization and was CEO of the EAT Foundation. He also co-founded the NCDFREE global social movement and established a not-for-profit foundation to improve the health and nutrition of Australian kids.

Sandro has published many scientific journal articles and is author of the Doctor’s Diet cookbook. He also co-hosts the ABC television and Netflix show Ask the Doctor.

And is facilitated by:

Simon Corden, Essential Services Commissioner and chair of the NRCoP

Simon is Chair of the Steering Group of ANZSOG’s National Regulator Community of Practice. Simon was appointed part-time commissioner of the Victorian Essential Services Commission in April 2019. His previous roles include senior executive positions government in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Treasury and Finance, the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, WorkSafe Victoria, and the Commonwealth Productivity Commission. From 2011 to 2018 he was the Director, Policy, Programs and Evaluation, Management Consulting at KPMG Australia. He has also been a consultant to the OECD in Mexico, and drafted the OECD guide on governance of regulators.