Unfinished Conversations

Unfinished Conversations provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives to examine, challenge, and reimagine how the humanitarian principles can be upheld amid the evolving realities of today's humanitarian landscape.

MSF Australia is pleased to announce that the inaugural Unfinished Conversations event will be held at Woodward Conference Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia, from 6-9pm on Monday 9 November.  

The event builds on the legacy of our esteemed late colleague Sean Healy, whose expertise and commitment to medical humanitarian action left a lasting impact on MSF and colleagues around the world, inspiring courage, reflection, and meaningful dialogue.

The event aims to bring together thought leaders, practitioners, and participants to explore emerging debates and foster meaningful discussion on the humanitarian principle of impartiality. It marks the first event in a three-part series that will also examine the principles of neutrality and independence.

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

We welcome proposals addressing the following question:

• Impartiality: principle or illusion?
• Proposals should be in the form of abstracts and should describe the main points of reflection on the theme. These should be no more than 500 words.

Proposals are welcome from:

• Emerging academics: post graduate students or academics
• Practitioners: those with lived experiences of humanitarian crisis including coming from countries that experience crisis (such as locally hired MSF or other NGO staff)
• Thought leaders: an experienced writer on global humanitarism, principles, values or international humanitarian law.

Proposals must be made by 20 September. Successful candidates to present at the event will be informed in early October.

Three finalists will be invited to present and debate the theme at the inaugural event in Melbourne, Australia. The main emphasis is on in-person presentations, however, there will be opportunity to also present online.

Thank you to the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership at Deakin University and to the Global Health Alliance for their support of this event.

MSF Australia will cover the travel and accommodation costs for those accepted to present.

For any enquiries please contact: [email protected]

Background

This event is a tribute to our esteemed colleague, Sean Healy. As a humanitarian who worked primarily with Médecins Sans Frontières, Sean's enduring curiosity led him to critically examine both the organisation's work and the role of the broader humanitarian system. Through thoughtful questioning and rigorous reflection, he challenged colleagues to think deeply about the ethical, operational, and political complexities of humanitarian action.

Sean began his career with MSF Australia as a Press Officer before moving into field-based roles in 2005, working in Burundi, Pakistan and Laos. In 2010, he joined MSF's Humanitarian Affairs Unit in Berlin, Germany, as a Humanitarian Affairs Advisor, where he supported with analysis of the humanitarian issues confronting people and populations to inform MSF’s temoignage in a range of complex settings, including Syria, Somalia and Myanmar. In 2015, he became an adviser for MSF on issues related to access to medicines, vaccines, and other medical products.

In 2018, Sean was appointed MSF operational centre Amsterdam’s first Head of Reflection and Analysis. He led a team of researchers from across and beyond the organisation, fostering critical thinking and collaboration while building strong connections with the humanitarian and global health communities.

Sean’s reflections and commitment to medical humanitarian action has left an enduring impact. Sean passed away following an illness in late 2023. In the wake of his passing, colleagues and friends established Unfinished Conversations to honour his legacy and continue fostering the thoughtful discussions he championed throughout his life and work.