NON-MONOGAMY MAKES US BETTER PARENTS
Public debate on non-monogamy frequently triggers strong responses, particularly regarding the upbringing of children. While we have spent decades arguing about what adults want from their relationships, we’ve spent far less asking what children actually need from their families.
With family dynamics shifting, maybe it’s time to focus on what shapes a child, and whether the relationship structure they’re raised in matters less than the stability, love and honesty it affords.
More speakers to be announced.
Evolving Love Project
The Evolving Love Project is the creative collaboration of Abbey Mackay and Liam Budge, exploring how love, intimacy and relationships are evolving. Through their award-nominated Evolving Love Podcast, they have interviewed leading thinkers on attachment, desire, non-monogamy and human connection. Abbey is also a writer whose work combines personal vulnerability with cultural critique, examining the forces that shape how we love, relate and parent. Together, they challenge conventional assumptions about romance, commitment and family. Their work has been featured by ABC Compass, SBS Insight, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Rebecca Huntley
Dr Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia’s foremost researchers on social trends. She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies. She is Director of Research at 89DegreesEast and a Fellow of The Research Society. Rebecca is the author of numerous books, including How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference and her acclaimed memoir Sassafras: love, loss and MDMA therapy. She writes regularly for The Guardian, The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.
Tim Dean
Tim Dean is a public philosopher, speaker and writer. He has a Doctorate in philosophy from UNSW Sydney on the evolution of morality and specialises in public philosophy, ethics and critical thinking. He is an Honorary Associate at the University of Sydney and the author of How We Became Human. He is also an experienced science writer and editor and has worked for outlets such as The Conversation and edited magazines including Cosmos and Australian Life Scientist. He is the recipient of the Australasian Association of Philosophy Media Professionals’ Award for his work on philosophy in the public sphere. He is currently Senior Philosopher and Manos Chair in Ethics at The Ethics Centre.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.