Canberra Day Oration 2024: Dr Mat Trinca

The Canberra & District Historical Society proudly presents the 2024 Canberra Day Oration.

Join us at 12pm on Tuesday 12 March when Dr Mat Trinca AM FAHA will deliver the 2024 address, Representing Nation in the National Capital: The National Museum of Australia and Canberra.

This event is free to attend but bookings are essential.

About the lecture

In the 2024 Canberra Day Oration, Dr Mathew Trinca will argue that there is no better place than Canberra from which to tell the diverse stories of Australian experience. Reflecting on the National Museum’s work since 2001, he will speak about the way in which Canberra is both present in the Museum and has framed its mission and practice, how the museum seeks to capture the meaning of Canberra as a city and a home, as much as speaking to a sense of its place in the nation.

About Dr Mat Trinca

Dr Mathew Trinca AM FAHA was the Director of the National Museum of Australia (NMA) from 2014 to early 2024 and will shortly take up a professorial appointment at the Australian National University’s Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies. As Director of the NMA, Dr Trinca negotiated key projects and ongoing relationships with museums in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, established a strong domestic and international touring program and led the redevelopment of the Museum's public spaces and galleries.

Dr Trinca is an honorary fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Australia Day Honours List for 'significant service to the museums and galleries sector'. He has served as the co-chair of the Australia Singapore Arts Group, as chair of ICOM Australia and is presently a Commissioner for Culture and Olympic Heritage, and Chair of Blue Shield Australia. Dr Trinca has research interests in Australian cultural history and environmental history, in contemporary museum theory and practice and has contributed regularly to scholarly and popular publications.

About the Canberra Day Oration

From foundation in 1953, the Canberra & District Historical Society has promoted the annual observance of Canberra Day on 12 March. In the following years the Society celebrated Canberra Day in a variety of ways, including Pioneer Gatherings, exhibitions, essay competitions, orations and commemorations at the Commencement Stone. From 2002 the Society re-introduced the Canberra Day Oration, with Professor Don Aitkin as the first orator. Since then, the Canberra Day Oration has been an annual event, held on 12 March. 

Image