The Ethics Centre is a not-for-profit organisation developing and delivering innovative programs, services and experiences, designed to bring ethics to the centre of personal and professional life.
Across all our work, the same goals drive what we do: to bring people together, create space for open and honest conversations, and build the skills and capacity of people to live and act according to their values.
We remain committed to injecting a pause into the centre of public life and allowing people to stop, connect with others and explore the ethical dimension of our everyday lives.
WHAT WE DO
Articles, videos, research and thought leadership papers that illuminate ethics and help you tackle issues that matter.
Curated conversations, debates and workshops that explore ethics and the most important challenges we face, together.
Consulting and leadership programs to help staff and organisations navigate complex ethical terrains.
A free, independent helpline, Ethi-call provides guidance and support to anyone facing a difficult ethical dilemma or decision.
A corporate community of businesses who are committed to raising the standard of business practice in Australia.
Volunteer led program of discussion-based ethics classes to build critical thinking skills in Primary School students.
The BFO fosters ethical practice through valuable conversations, events, and exemplary individual commitment.
The Festival of Dangerous Ideas steps across the threshold to explore issues at the boundary of collective consciousness.
WHAT IS ETHICS?
ETHICS IS ABOUTRELATIONSHIPS
Us and the lives we choose to live.
Us in relationships with each other.
Us in the context of the world we all live in.
KNOW YOUR WORLD.KNOW YOUR SELF.
Ethics extends a great invitation.
To know our world, each other and ourselves.
An unexamined life is not worth living.
NAVIGATECOMPLEXITY
Our human experience can be complicated.
Ethics can guide us through complex terrain.
Ethics supports good and right choices.
WHAT IS ETHICS?
IT'S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Us and the lives we chose to live.
Us in relationships with each other.
Us in the context of the world.
KNOW YOUR WORLD,
KNOW YOUR SELF
The unexamined life is not worth living.
Engaging with the ethical dimension of life.
That’s what makes us human.
NAVIGATE COMPLEXITY
Life is complicated.
Ethics helps guide through complex terrain.
Supporting choices that are good and right.

LIVING OUR ETHICS
Our Purpose
To bring ethics to the centre of everyday life.
Our Vision
A world in which privilege has been tempered by fairness; in which power has been checked by conscience; in which good and right prevail – for the benefit of all.
Our Foundation
Our Work
We are innovators, thought leaders and conveners of people and ideas. We translate theory into practice. We diagnose, prevent and cure the sources of ethical failure. We make and apply tools for good decision-making. We educate, engage and inform for a better world.
Our Values & Principles
01
BE FOR HUMANITY
People matter most. Every person has intrinsic dignity and deserves respect. We’ll reject ideas or views that aim to deny the humanity of others.
02
KNOW YOUR WORLD. KNOW YOUR SELF
Socrates believed that the unexamined life is not worth living. Questioning who we are, being conscious of what we think and do and being alive to what’s good and right is what makes us ethical beings.
03
LISTEN
Listening is the foundation for mutual respect and understanding. Being open to others makes us worthy to respond. We provide opportunities for all voices to be heard – including the silenced or ignored.
04
DEMAND AND OFFER THE BEST REASONS
There is plenty of bad reasoning in the world: we won’t contribute to it. We create opportunities for people to explore diverse and often challenging ideas to support deeper thinking, good choices and better outcomes.
05
IMAGINE WITH INTENT
Finding solutions to ethical challenges requires imagination. We’ll honour the philosophical traditions that inform our work with a commitment to apply them to our increasingly complex world. We’ll never stop creating better solutions, better futures and better ways to be in the world.
06
BE COURAGEOUS
Ethics demands courage. We won’t shy away from hard truths, uncomfortable topics or compromise our independence. We won’t trade doing what’s right for what’s easy – or profitable – even if it pits us against public opinion or the powerful.
07
WALK YOUR TALK
Living ethically is not about telling people what to think and do: it’s about living with integrity. Be who you say you are.
OUR PEOPLE
We are a diverse team who bring a range of skills, life experiences, knowledge and passion for ethics to everything we do. Get to know a little more about us.
Abhinav Gijwani
Professional Bio
Abhi is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over six years of work experience within Finance and Accounting. He looks after the finance function for The Ethics Centre, both at operational and strategic level. Prior to joining us at The Ethics Centre, Abhi worked with major international logistics and travel companies. He holds an undergraduate degree in Professional Accounting from Macquarie University, plus he’s an avid cricket fan!
What inspires you about the work that you do?
It’s great to be a part of an organisation that allows a platform for all ideas, and promotes good ethics both at organisational and individual level.
Cris Parker
Professional Bio
Cris heads The Ethics Alliance, a community of organisations across sectors that works to collaboratively shape the future of business ethics. She is also a director of The Banking & Finance Oath, a pledge of integrity and commitment that aims to increase consideration of stakeholders and decision-making accountability by financial service professionals. It is a program she helped execute, and still oversees. She holds a degree in psychology, and in another life, founded a Manhattan theatre company, casting agency, and production studio.
What inspires you about the work that you do?
I am inspired by the humanity that lies under the belly of business and the genuine desire to strengthen society. I am forever inspired by the people I work with who are so wholly committed to what they do. I am inspired by the impact of the work we do. Whether it is one person or a room of people, you can see and hear the impact – there is a hunger to learn and contribute to a better society.
Dr Matt Beard
Professional Bio
Matt is a moral philosopher with a background in applied and military ethics. He has taught philosophy and ethics at university for several years, and has been extensively published in academic journals, book chapters and is a sought after speaker at both national and international conferences. In 2016, Matt won the Australasian Association of Philosophy prize for media engagement, recognising his “prolific contribution to public philosophy”. He is columnist with New Philosopher magazine and ABC Life, and a podcaster on the ABC’s Short & Curly program, an award-winning children’s ethics podcast..
What inspires you about the work that you do?
I’m inspired when I see our work inspire others. Whether I’m in the classroom, writing, working with colleagues or speaking to a room full of people, what drives me is the ‘aha’ moment. When people suddenly understand the world in a new light. They’re inspired to do things differently, ask different questions and seek better answers. In a moment, someone can suddenly realise what it means to live well. That’s the spark for me.
Dr Simon Longstaff AO FCPA
Professional Bio
Simon Longstaff began his working life on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory of Australia. He is proud of his kinship ties to the Anindilyakwa people. After a period studying law in Sydney and teaching in Tasmania, he pursued postgraduate studies as a Member of Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1991, Simon commenced his work as the first Executive Director of The Ethics Centre. In 2013, he was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for “distinguished service to the community through the promotion of ethical standards in governance and business, to improving corporate responsibility, and to philosophy.” Simon is an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, a Fellow of CPA Australia, the Royal Society of NSW and the Australian Risk Policy Institute.
What inspires you about the work that you do?
People. I am inspired by their openness and generosity in sharing their thoughts and feelings with me. I am inspired by our common frailty in the midst of uncertainty – and the fact that this need not be overwhelming. I am inspired by the opportunity to continue learning about our brilliant, troubling, contradictory, maddeningly beautiful form of being – simultaneously the most creative and destructive creature on earth; a source of wonder and dread. If I can help people to fall ‘just the right side’ of each question, then I play a small role in making a better future.
John Neil
Professional Bio
During his time at the The Ethics Centre John has directed our major consulting projects, leadership, people and culture programs and product development. Drawing on 20 years as a consultant, lecturer and researcher in ethics, leadership, cultural studies, innovation and social entrepreneurship, John has worked with Australia’s largest organisations in developing and delivering solutions to bring ethics to the centre of business design, culture development and organisational decision making. As Director of Innovation, he leads the development of our tools, frameworks and programs.
Whats inspires you about the work you do?
Helping individuals and organisations make sense of complex problems, large and small. Bringing solutions that are practical, collaborative and which draw on the inherent wisdom of those who are most directly affected by the challenge.
Joseph Dickson
Professional Bio
Joseph brings over 15 years of experience across content and education roles with the ASX to The Ethics Centre’s education team. In his role as Project Manager he is driving the development of new ethical literacy training programs specifically for the Financial Services industry.
What inspires you about the work that you do?
Education is one of the great ways to help shape the world we live in. In my role I have the unique privilege to create a positive impact on the lives of those who experience our programs, and also see that change ripple across the world around them.
Mary Anne Terry
Professional Bio
Mary Anne brings over 30 years of experience to her role at The Ethics Centre. She has held leadership roles with responsibility for finance, human resources, marketing and operations in top tier legal and management consulting firms, as well as in investment banking firms in Sydney, London and New York. She holds an undergraduate degree in Economics and an MBA.
What inspires you about the work that you do?
The Ethics Centre is unique. It’s inspiring to work with such a committed team of people. I’m excited to be able to utilise my commercial experience to ensure that The Ethics Centre is in a sound financial position and operates efficiently.
Michelle Bloom
Professional bio
Michelle is a seasoned commercial Senior Executive with expertise in Leadership, Culture, Talent and Organisational Transformation. Drawing on 30 years as a consultant, clinician, and organisational development specialist, Michelle has worked with Australia’s largest organisations in developing and delivering solutions to assess and build value-driven leaders and cultures.
Her work has supported organisations to evolve their approach to risk management – from compliance and regulation mechanisms to explicitly assessing and developing the intangible aspects of ethics, psychology and political systems to decrease an organisation’s systemic risk. This enables organisations to minimise their intangible risks, creating competitive advantage and ensuring reputation, brand and market value.
What inspires you about the work that you do?
The most serious ethical problems we are facing are not in any particular institution, but rather the relationship between them. Information that does not take into account the full scope of inter-relationality in a system is likely to inspire misguided decision making which compounds ethically challenging and wicked problems. If change is to be made, it will be as a consequence of a shift not only in the problematised part, but in the combined conditions in which the system exists – be it a person, organisation, or society. That is the work of The Ethics Centre and why I love what I do.
Wendy Agostino
Professional Bio
Wendy joined the Ethics Centre in early 2018 and has an extensive career working as an Executive Assistant in a variety of organisations and sectors including PWC, Bus 2000, AAP and Aussie Home Loans. “I really enjoy what I do, and get great satisfaction from helping others to achieve success”. Coming from a broad range of industries I have had the opportunity to see the inner workings of business and being in this role allows me to reflect on what Ethics at work really means and given me a renewed lens on the business world.
What inspires you about the work that you do?
I’m passionate about working with a team who has a combined purpose of making a meaningful difference in the world.
OUR IMPACT
For 30 years we’ve worked with thousands of people and organisations across the globe to tackle the ethical challenges they face, or set the foundations to confront them when they come. Here is a glimpse at the impact our work creates.
NAMED BEST GLOBAL APPLIED ETHICS CONSULTANCY IN UK’S 2017 SOCIAL CARE AWARDS
Our free national helpline,
Ethi-call, has supported people through their toughest challenges since it was established in 1991. Staffed by trained volunteer counsellors, it’s the only service of its kind in the world helping people untangle difficult and often painful ethical problems that leave them feeling stuck or alone.
40,000+ K-6 STUDENTS IN OVER 500 SCHOOLS
Before Primary Ethics,
children in NSW primary schools who opted out of weekly scripture class were denied an opportunity to engage in meaningful activity. Its introduction in 2010 now allows over 40,000 children each week from more than 450 schools, to foster critical thinking that enables doing what’s right.
1,500+ MEMBERS + CHAIRMAN & CEO OF EVERY MAJOR BANK
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis and subsequent financial services scandals, the banking and finance industry struggled to regain public trust. The Banking and Finance Oath (BFO), created in 2012, has reinforced a commitment to ethics through its network of growing signatories.
$600M DIVESTED FROM TOBACCO AND WEAPONS
Amidst a global investment climate where returns often trump social responsibility,
AMP Capital invited The Ethics Centre to help them design a robust ethical investment framework and define clear no-go investment boundaries.
As a result, AMP Capital divested $600m from tobacco and manufacturers of munitions.