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Now in its twelfth year, the event is named in honour of the Cordner family, whose association with Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP and the University of Melbourne has remained unbroken since 1903. With football embedded within their family heritage, generations of Cordners have represented Trinity, the University Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club with distinction.

Our speaker at this year's Cordner Oration is Michael Fitzpatrick AO.

Date: Thursday 18 September 2025

Time: Arrivals 6pm | Oration 6.30 – 7.30pm | Refreshments 7.30 – 8.30pm

Venue: Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPP, 100 Royal Parade, Parkville VIC 3052

RSVP: By 5pm, Thursday 11 September 2025

Tickets: $35pp (includes drinks & canapés)

Enquiries: Briony O'Halloran | events@trinity.unimelb.edu.au | 03 8341 0216

Michael Fitzpatrick AO is an Australian businessman, former AFL chairman, and celebrated Australian rules footballer.

He began his football career with Subiaco in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), before joining Carlton in the VFL, where he went on to play 150 games, captain the team from 1980 – 1983, and win three premierships.

Mike took a hiatus from his football career to study at Oxford’s St John’s College, on a Rhodes Scholarship. After retiring, he worked in the Victorian Treasury Department, and later in investment banking in New York, before founding Hastings Funds Management in 1994.

He has held various leadership roles across sport and business, including as chairman of the Australian Sports Commission (1994–1997), board member of the Carlton Football Club (1989–1995), director of Rio Tinto and Trustee of the Melbourne Park Tennis Centre. 

Currently, Mike is an alternative director of Foresight Australia, a director of Carnegie Clean Energy, the world leading wave energy generator, and Third Equation Ltd, designed to promote electrical grid stability.