Griffin Economic History Public Lecture Series

The Griffin Economic History Public Lecture is named after Peter Griffin AM an alum of the Faculty (BCom 1963) who has had a long and successful career in the business world, particularly in the investment and banking sectors.

In 2008, Peter was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the Australian community through support for medical research, arts and charitable organisations. He is passionate about Economic History and is keen that students leave the University of Melbourne with a good understanding of business and finance, and also a deep awareness of previous mistakes made by governments, industry and the banking sector.

The University of Melbourne gratefully acknowledges support for the Griffin Economic History Public Lecture from the Peter Griffin and Terry Swann Foundation.

Catch up on the latest lecture

Roots of Extremism – Social Dynamics and the Long Shadows of History in the Rise of the Nazi Party

The 2026 Griffin Economic History Public Lecture with Professor Hans‑Joachim Voth from the University of Zurich explored the question of how democracies collapse, and why do everyday people come to support extremist movements.

Past lectures