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Hugh Evans to Deliver 2009 Keith Murdoch Oration

Hugh Evans, anti-poverty campaigner and former Young Australian of the Year, will deliver the 2009 Keith Murdoch Oration at the State Library of Victoria on Tuesday 8 September.

At 26 Hugh is the Director of the Global Poverty Project and an expert in building social movements. He founded the Oaktree Foundation, Australia's first youth-run aid organisation, and was one of the key leaders behind the successful Australian Make Poverty History campaign.

Hugh's oration, Our Future in the World, will explore the fight against extreme poverty, Australia's growth as a knowledge-based economy, community connectedness, sustainability and regional development - delivering a positive and hopeful message for the future.

"We are at a point in history that confronts us with both endless possibility and endless uncertainty," Hugh says.

"Endless possibility, because never before have we been able to communicate with every corner of the globe and develop ideas that have universal reach. Endless uncertainty, because we see the collapse of global markets and its effect on everyone, on every side of the globe. In this closeness of global community lies the capacity for humanity to be truly great."

The Keith Murdoch Oration was established in 2001 to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Sir Keith Murdoch and his family to the State Library of Victoria. The inaugural oration was delivered by Rupert Murdoch in October 2001.

The Oration supports the work of the State Library and reflects the Library's commitment to promoting debate in the community about knowledge and culture.