Dr. Helen Durham is balancing courage and compassion

Humanitarian Conversations

Passionate, persistent, patient—these are three qualities Dr. Helen Durham AO says are essential for humanitarians. And whether she’s addressing the UN Security Council in New York or mediating with the military in times of conflict, Helen embodies them all—while staying true to her humanitarian imperative.

A trailblazer in international humanitarian law, RedR Australia’s CEO Dr. Helen Durham has devoted her 30-year career to protecting people whose lives are affected by war and conflict. She was a key player in the drafting of an historic resolution to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons; she played an important role in clarifying rape as a war crime; and she played a key role in the creation of the International Criminal Court at The Hague. In 2017, she was awarded the prestigious Officer of the Order of Australia.

In this episode, Helen and Sally chat about the power and importance of humanitarian work—from the impact it can have on individual lives, to the power of law to change entire nations, to the delicate balance of courage and compassion that all humanitarians must hold.

You can join our conversations on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

You can read the transcript here.

Host: Sally Cunningham

Guest: Dr. Helen Durham AO

Producer, engineer and composer: Jill Farrar