2026 Sydney Peace Prize Award Ceremony and Lecture

Lineup

• More details about Jennifer Robinson

  Jennifer Robinson

  Jennifer Robinson, 2026 Sydney Peace Prize Laureate, is widely recognised for her fearless advocacy in defence of human rights, press freedom, and gender justice, and for her enduring commitment to the rule of law under political pressure. An award-winning barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, she has built an international reputation representing journalists, activists, and marginalised communities. Robinson acted as the main legal counsel for Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, contributing crucially to his eventual release. She also represented the family of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in efforts to seek accountability for her killing, in relation to allegations of targeting by Israel. She represents smaller nations in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions, including West Papua’s self-determination movement and Vanuatu’s advocacy on climate change accountability. Robinson is also a co-author of How Many More Women?, which examines laws around the world that silence women and the legal and policy reforms needed to ensure women’s freedoms are no longer threatened by the systems meant to protect them.

• More details about Lord Mayor Clover Moore

  Lord Mayor Clover Moore

  Clover Moore is the longest serving Lord Mayor of Sydney. She is the first popularly elected woman to lead the City of Sydney and previously served in the NSW Parliament and on the City and South Sydney councils. From March 1988, Clover was continuously elected to represent the Bligh/Sydney electorate as an independent MP in the NSW Parliament. She was forced to resign on 21 September 2012 after a state law made it illegal for her to continue in both roles. An opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald once said: "In her 20 years as MP, with more successful private member's bills than anyone in a century, Moore has done more to keep the bastards honest than Don Chipp ever did.” Throughout her public life, Clover has championed progressive policies. Small bars, freedom of information laws, whistleblower protection, disclosure of government contracts, boarding house protection, tenant's rights, strata title reform, making it illegal to incite hatred against members of the GLBT community and making same sex adoption legal are among her achievements. When she held the balance of power alongside other independents in NSW, she delivered a charter of reform, called the most radical state political reform agenda of any Westminster Parliament in the 20th century. As Lord Mayor, Clover has led the development and implementation of the City's internationally renowned long term plan – Sustainable Sydney 2030. The plan includes ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse emissions. Under her leadership, the City has developed a global reputation for delivering award-winning facilities, protecting open space, promoting design excellence, delivering new transport options, championing sustainability and initiating progressive solutions to complex city social problems. Clover is an arts graduate of Sydney University. She has two children, Sophie and Tom. She lives in inner-Sydney Redfern with husband Peter and and two staffies, Bessie and Buster.

• More details about Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts

  Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts

  Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts is a proud Bundjalung Widubul Wiabul woman, human rights advocate, lawyer, author, writer and survivor advocate. She is a respected and authoritative voice on the rights, safety and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. As a survivor of forcible removal, Vanessa brings lived experience alongside cultural authority, legal expertise and a commitment to justice, safety and institutional accountability. Her work is grounded in the right of First Nations children to remain connected to family, community, culture and Country. Vanessa is a Fulbright Scholar, former Commissioner, and PhD candidate. Her research examines Indigenous children, child protection, Country and human rights, with a focus on exposing and transforming the systems that continue to harm First Nations children and families. In 2019, Vanessa was awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal in recognition of her leadership and advocacy. She continues to work with organisations, communities, national bodies and international partners across child protection, youth justice, climate justice and the interconnected rights of land, culture, safety and survival. Vanessa leads advocacy for the protection and rights of First Nations children and people impacted by child protection and youth justice systems. Her work contributes First Nations sovereignty, justice and accountability nationally and globally.

• More details about Sarah Schartz

  Sarah Schartz

  Sarah is Legal Director, Democratic Freedoms team at the Human Rights Law Centre, where she works on litigation and advocacy defending protest rights and rights to political expression. This year, she worked with protest organisers of the Invasion Day rally to successfully challenge expanded police powers in Melbourne's CBD. Sarah previously worked as the Principal of the Wirraway Practice at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and has more than a decade of experience in the community legal sector. She holds a Master of Laws from Harvard and is also a lecturer at Melbourne Law School and Executive Director of the Jewish Council of Australia.

• More details about Ben Law - MC

  Ben Law - MC

  Benjamin Law is an acclaimed Australian writer and broadcaster. He is an AWGIE Award-winning screenwriter and playwright, and author of The Family Law, which was adapted into an award-winning SBS series. One of Australia’s most prolific interviewers, Benjamin's interviews include Bernie Sanders, Gloria Steinem and Fran Lebowitz. He has written for over 50 publications in Australia and beyond. In 2019 he was voted one of the 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians, winning the Arts & Culture category of the Asian-Australian Leadership Awards.