The 2025 Nicholas Aroney Democracy Lecture: Athenian Democracy – its evolution, values and modern relevance
Athenian democracy required a power sharing model that was revolutionary for its times. It is a different model from that of present-day democracies.
How did it evolve and what were the context and background to its evolution?
What were the core values of Athenian democracy and how are they to be understood?
Do those values have a relevance for modern democracies and why has Athenian democracy been a source of inspiration over the centuries to those considering modes of governance?
Light refreshments will be served after the lecture.
More information
The Hon Anthe Philippides is a former judge of the Queensland Supreme Court. Her appointment as a trial judge in 2000 and a judge of appeal in 2014, marked the first appointments in Australia of a woman of Hellenic origin to a Supreme Court and Court of Appeal respectively. She is a graduate of the University of Queensland where she was awarded the University Medal in law and of Cambridge University where she read for the LLM.
She is Queensland Patron of the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association, Adjunct Professor of the TC Beirne Law School and a member of the Australian Academy of Law.
She is a past President of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand and has served on numerous boards and councils across a range of fields.
She has a strong interest in the arts and is chair of Flying Arts Alliance, a director of Musica Viva Australia, the Queensland Youth Orchestra and the University of Queensland Press. She is Patron of the Legal Forecast Creative and LawchestraQ and founded the Music and Arts Circle to promote greater access to the Arts for those of diverse backgrounds.
Presented with support of the Nicholas Anthony Aroney Trust Greek Cultural Fund as part of the 2025 Greek Festival of Sydney.
Header image: The Hon Anthe Philippides
