Jon Faine AM

Jon Faine is a Vice Chancellors Fellow at the University of Melbourne for 2022 and 2023, attached to The Melbourne Law School but with a roving commission across the entire university.

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His book "Apollo & Thelma" is released on 1 April 2022. It tells the tall but true tale of The Mighty Apollo, legendary strongman and circus performer, 'the strongest man on earth', 'Champion of Champions' and a legendary show business figure. Apollo and his then underage sons inherited a remote outback pub from his sister, Thelma, who died suddenly in 1981. Thelma had been the solo publican at Top Springs in the NT for more than twenty years, earning a reputation as a formidable outback figure.

Jon was the families lawyer, and tells the remarkable tale of these two characters and their extraordinary lives. Along the way, we re-visit the struggle for indigenous land rights and the Gurindji walk-off as well as the role of iconic yarn-spinner Frank Hardy. Published by Hardie Grant, and with over 100 photos both colour and black and white, the story is part memoir and part history.

Until October 2019 Jon Faine was the host of the agenda-setting morning broadcast for ABC Radio in Melbourne for over twenty years. Before joining the ABC in 1989 to host ‘The Law Report’ on Radio National, Jon had  practised for seven years in both commercial litigation and as a legal aid/human rights advocate. Countless conference presentations, panel moderations, MC duties, guest lectures and public events complement his legal and media career. Add to that a best selling travel book, several oral history publications, multiple opinion and commentary pieces for major newspapers, regular TV appearances and guest radio spots,  as well as being script advisor for several films completes his diverse career.

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For over thirty years, Jon has been in demand for conference keynote speeches, presentations, facilitation, and panel moderation. Specialising in complex matters of public policy, strategy, legal issues, technological challenge or cultural clashes, his work has covered every imaginable field.

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Amidst the Covid pandemic, Jon has facilitated regular Zoom and Skype conferences sessions for business and universities as well as consulting to the superannuation industry lead body ISA. The wildly successful and acclaimed 'Covid Safe' ads for the Victorian Government Health Department, featuring Magda Szubanski, Matt Preston, Shane Jacobson and others were created, written and produced by Jon in three frantic weeks in the early stages of covid in 2020.

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Awards

Member, Order of Australia [AM]

ABC Broadcaster of the Year 2000

Nominated Walkley Award, three times

Victoria Law Foundation

Melbourne Press Club, Quills

NSW Law Foundation, Golden Gavel

Monash University Distinguished Alumni