The CIS Event Experience

Biological reality vs progressive ideals | Louise Perry & Claire Lehmann

In this discussion hosted by ‪@CISAus‬ & ‪@Quillette‬ , British author Louise Perry (of ‪@maidenmothermatriarch‬) joins Quillette founder Claire Lehmann to challenge contemporary feminist orthodoxy and make a compelling case for conservative feminism.
Perry, author of "The Case Against the Sexual Revolution," argues that progressivism's fundamental flaw is its attempt to deny biological reality – particularly evident in transgender ideology and the dismissal of psychological and physical differences between the sexes. She suggests that while this approach may have benefited some women, it has proven unsustainable as "biology has a way of reasserting itself."
The conversation explores how mothers have become pivotal in challenging transgender orthodoxy, how technological changes have reshaped gender relations, and why the sexual revolution has disproportionately benefited high-status men. Both speakers lament the absence of education around identifying dangerous personality traits, particularly those high in dark triad characteristics.
Perry maintains that feminism must acknowledge fundamental biological differences — women's capacity for childbearing and their physical vulnerability compared to men — for any coherent politics to emerge. She argues that traditional institutions like marriage evolved specifically to protect women and children from vulnerability. Throughout, Perry presents conservative feminism not merely as a reaction to progressive excess, but as a return to historical understanding that accepts biological reality while advocating for women's genuine interests and protection.
Louise Perry is a British journalist, author, and broadcaster. Her 2022 book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, critiques modern feminism and hypersexualised culture, earning praise from outlets like The Times and The Spectator. She hosts the podcast Maiden Mother Matriarch and contributes to The New Statesman, The Spectator, and The Daily Mail.
Claire Lehmann is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Quillette, a site dedicated to promoting free thought and open inquiry, and a is a regular columnist with The Australian.
Tom Switzer is executive director of CIS. He is former presenter at ABC’s Radio National and held editorial roles at The Spectator Australia and The Australian.
Zoe Booth is the Content Director at Quillette, host of the Quillette Cetera podcast, and a contributor to The Australian.

What really works in Indigenous policy? Senator Kerrynne Liddle & Simon Cowan

Years of policy approaches have yielded limited progress, especially in closing the gap. Economic development, Native Title reform, and private enterprise have become central to creating sustainable futures for Indigenous communities.
In this address, Senator Kerrynne Liddle examines pathways toward Indigenous advancement. Drawing on her experience, she explores how economic empowerment, policy reform, and government engagement can transform outcomes for Indigenous Australians. Senator Liddle shares her perspectives in conversation with Simon Cowan, addressing questions about economic opportunity, practical reform, and moving beyond symbolic gestures toward results.
Senator Kerrynne Liddle was elected to represent South Australia in 2022 and appointed Shadow Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family Violence within her first year. She serves on the Joint Standing Committee for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and has held senior positions across tourism, energy, and education industries, bringing valuable insights to Australia's Indigenous policy landscape.

Demographic destiny: Nicholas Eberstadt on the world's population implosion.

After centuries of population growth, humanity is now entering an unprecedented era of decline. From East Asia to Europe, birth rates have plummeted far below replacement levels, with profound implications for economies, societies and geopolitics.
In this thought-provoking lecture, renowned demographer Nicholas Eberstadt explores our coming depopulating future. While sub-replacement fertility introduces serious challenges, Eberstadt argues that prosperity remains possible through human innovation, open economies, and competitive immigration policies. Join us as we examine how demographic transformation will reshape global power dynamics and our everyday lives in the decades ahead.
Nicholas Eberstadt is the Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior adviser to the National Bureau of Asian Research, with decades of experience studying global demographic, economic and security trends.

Why right now? Simon Heffer & Tom Switzer on political shifts

After a decade where progressive ideas dominated Western discourse - with their focus on diversity, inclusion and what critics call "woke" politics - the political landscape appears to be shifting rightward. From North America to Europe and the Asia-Pacific, conservative movements are gaining momentum, challenging progressive agendas that once seemed ascendant.
In this discussion, we explore what's driving this global rightward shift. Is the progressive moment in politics fading? What might this mean for economic policy and Western cultural direction?
Simon Heffer, columnist for The Telegraph and professor at the University of Buckingham, joins Tom Switzer, Executive Director at CIS and former ABC Radio National host, to examine the global conservative resurgence and its implications.

The Middle East in the Trump era with John Spencer & Tom Switzer

In this event John Spencer & CIS executive director Tom Switzer examined the future of US Middle East policy as Donald Trump eyed a return to the White House, exploring potential foreign policy shifts and their implications for Israel's military operations against Hamas and Hezbollah.
John Spencer chairs Urban Warfare Studies at West Point's Modern War Institute and the Madison Policy Forum. He authored "Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership and Social Connections in Modern War" among other books.

Why Israel is in deep trouble with John Mearsheimer & Tom Switzer

Jake Sullivan's September 2023 assessment of a "quiet" Middle East was shattered by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. In May 2024, John Mearsheimer discussed how the conflict strained US-Israel relations and raised risks of broader regional war.
Mearsheimer also noted that Israel appeared to be struggling in Gaza while simultaneously battling Hezbollah in the north, managing strained US relations, and confronting genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice.
CIS executive director Tom Switzer hosted this event with John Mearsheimer, professor of political science at the University of Chicago in May 2024.

The success of New Zealand’s housing policy reforms with Stuart Donovan & Peter Tulip

Over the past decade, New Zealand’s policy reforms had fuelled a housing construction boom. This was estimated to have reduced rents by 28% in Auckland and by 21% in Lower Hutt, relative to what they would have been otherwise.
In new CIS research released in February 2025, Stuart Donovan discussed the reforms and their impact on young people, affordability, and their relevance to Australia. Shortly after the release of this work, Stuart spoke with CIS Chief Economist and housing expert Peter Tulip via Zoom.
The research, titled Less Crowded Houses: NZ’s Housing Policy Success and Implications for Australia, is available here: https://www.cis.org.au/publication/less-crowded-houses-the-success-of-nzs-housing-policy-reforms-and-implications-for-australia/.