The Co-Convenors of the South Australian Fabians, Sonja Baram and Duncan Bainbridge, who will lead the branch through an engaging future of ideas, debate, and progressive action.
About Sonja Baram
Sonja is a Family Law Therapist with extensive experience working in family and relationship therapy teams, childhood sexual abuse counselling, and specialised family violence services.
She is deeply committed to recognising people’s lived experiences and identities, and believes in the power of grassroots community resilience, built through shared skills, knowledge, and collective resistance.
A long-time Fabians member, Sonja has also completed the Governor’s Leadership Foundation Program.
She is particularly interested in amplifying grassroots voices within governance and policy structures from community services to government and politics.
Sonja is looking forward to leveraging the SA Branch's expertise to deliver an exciting program of events over the coming year.
About Duncan N. Bainbridge
Duncan is an experienced communications professional with a career in architecture, design, and social impact across Europe, North America, and Australia.
A Fabians member for the past four years, Duncan has also been a long-time member of both the Labour and Labor parties.
His unique blend of communication and strategy skills, along with global experience and strong social values, has shaped his commitment to creating meaningful change.
Duncan is passionate about social justice, particularly in combating poverty and homelessness, and believes that effective communication is a powerful tool for creating and implementing political strategies that promote equity and systemic reform.
He is very keen to get organised and active, moving the Branch into a new era.
What We Aim to Do
The world is changing, and it’s changing at an extraordinary rate.
Which is all the more reason to broaden public debate in Australia.
Together, Sonja and Duncan will deliver a program of events that empowers members to shape political and public discourse, fostering an open-minded, constructive space for debate.
We know that political ideas matter.
For more than fifty years, the Australian Fabians have led the way in progressive research and policy reform, raising the difficult questions and, when needed, proposing complex solutions.
Our movement has always sought to act as a “critical friend to the Australian Labor Party, supporting social democratic values while maintaining independence of thought.
As Labor is now into its historic second term, Australian political life enters a new era.
We know that there is an urgent need for fresh thinking, robust debate, and bold ideas.
The Australian Fabians aim to:
- Strengthen accountable, tolerant, and active democracy
- Promote greater equality of power, wealth, and opportunity
- Champion collective action and public service
Sonja and Duncan are excited to lead the SA Branch in this mission, building on our legacy of progressive thought and policy innovation while creating new opportunities for members to get involved, connect, and make an impact.
We anticipate a thought-provoking and inspiring year ahead, and we’re excited to see you at our upcoming events!
What is Next?