Meet the Author: Larissa Behrendt AO on Finding Justice: From Courtroom to Country

The Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, hosted a special event of The Australian National University (ANU) Meet the Author series at Government House, celebrating almost four decades of connecting authors, ideas and the Canberra community.

The event, held on Friday 6 November, featured Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO in conversation with Professor Kim Rubenstein about her book, Finding Justice: From Courtroom to Country.

Drawing on decades of experience as a legal academic, author and filmmaker, Professor Behrendt, a Eualayai/Gamillaroi woman, reflected on how Indigenous knowledge, personal experiences and different ways of knowing and being have shaped her understanding of justice.

Central to the discussion was the concept of deep listening and its importance in building understanding, respect, and connection.

The conversation formed part of a special celebration of the University's Meet the Author series, which has connected leading writers, thinkers and public figures with the Canberra community for almost four decades.

Established by Colin Steele AM in 1987, the series is the University's longest-running public outreach program, having hosted more than 1,300 events for the Canberra community.

The Government House event brought together University leaders and representatives from Australia's cultural and academic institutions, including ANU Chancellor Dr Gordon de Brouwer AO PSM, Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown and Interim Provost Professor Joan Leach.

As ANU celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, the Meet the Author series has become an enduring part of the University's engagement with the wider community, creating opportunities for people to explore new ideas and engage with different perspectives.