Welcome to the United Nations Association of Australia ACT.

Our purpose is to support the mission of the United Nations through advocacy, raising awareness and education.

In Canberra we have the distinct advantage of being able to draw on the presence of the international diplomatic community, the Parliament, the departments and agencies responsible for Australia’s foreign policy and programs, representatives of UN agencies, as well as numerous UN delegations and officials that visit the city.

We hope that you will join our mission to inform, inspire and engage.

It is my pleasure to represent the UNAA, ACT Division from the City of Canberra alongside my colleagues and peers of the UNAA Executive Committee.

The ACT Division hosts thought-provoking leaders, speakers, and events across the full range of the UN’s programs, encompassing peace and security, human rights, sustainable development, and justice and the rule of law.

We promote to enhance our UN message to inform, inspire and engage Australians on the work, goals, and values of the United Nations to create a safer, fairer, more sustainable world.

But above all, the UNAA in Canberra is about building and enhancing a community of like-minded people passionate about the UN and what Australia’s role should be in the ‘Parliament of the World’.  We hope that you will join us, and contribute your interest, enthusiasm and your company.

Brian Gleeson
President
UNAA ACT Division

RECENT UNAA ACT NEWS & EVENTS

UN@80 Photo Exhibition

The UN@80 Photo Exhibition was held in Canberra at MoAD on Friday, 24 October. The exhibition, marking the United Nations’ 80th Anniversary, showcased more than 200 stories from
193 countries highlighting the many ways in which the world’s most crucial international
organisation impacts all our daily lives: supporting peace and security, overseeing regulatory
frameworks, providing humanitarian assistance and fostering development, facilitating international conventions on trade, or advancing human rights.

The exhibit was organised by the UN Information Centre and the UNAA, in partnership with DFAT, together with the Permanent Missions of Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland. Miklos Gaspar (UNIC), Brian Gleeson (UNAA) and Angela Robinson (DFAT) shared some of the powerful stories of the impact of the UN at the event, with over 60 diplomats in attendance.”

UN 80 Reform- Our Future Depends on It | Doug Everingham Lecture| UNAA Queensland

At the 2025 Doug Everingham UN Day Lecture, Hon. Professor Matthew Neuhaus (ANU) delivered a timely address titled “UN 80 Reform – Our Future Depends on It.”

Marking 80 years since the UN’s founding, Professor Neuhaus warned that the organisation faces its most serious crisis yet, with major funding shortfalls, staff cuts, and growing global distrust of multilateralism. “The jungle,” he said, “is growing back.”

He outlined the UN80 Reform Initiative led by Secretary-General António Guterres, which aims to streamline agencies, modernise structures, and strengthen the UN’s ability to deliver. Neuhaus also called for stronger, reform-minded leadership in the next Secretary-General.

For Australia, he urged renewed commitment to global cooperation, echoing Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s call for “amplified middle power diplomacy.”

“It’s time for countries like Australia to step up and help maintain the garden of international order,” Neuhaus concluded. “Our future depends on it.”