About Us
Building a grassroots conservative movement — disciplined, capable, unafraid.
About the Institute
The Sir Bertram Stevens Institute is a conservative public-policy and leadership institute. We exist to rebuild conviction in Australian public life by forming, equipping, and mobilising people who are prepared to stand for something — and act.
We promote serious ideas, we train leaders, and we build campaigns. The Institute develops people who can raise funds, organise supporters, communicate with clarity, and challenge the cultural and political complacency that has hollowed out conservative leadership in Australia.
We are creating a grassroots movement of capable, principled individuals who can serve in either public office, in advocacy, and in civic life.
Why we are named after Sir Bertram Stevens
The Institute is named in honour of The Hon. Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale Stevens KCMG (1889–1973) — the NSW Premier who defeated the radicalism and constitutional vandalism of Jack Lang, restored financial order during the Great Depression, and demonstrated that leadership grounded in principle could stabilise a state in crisis. Stevens was not a career politician; he was a public servant who rose on merit, refused to compromise his authority for political convenience, and entered Parliament only after resigning rather than submit to political interference.
As Premier, Stevens defended the rule of law when Lang and NSW Labor sought to tear down the constitutional restraints that protect democratic government. He pursued reform with courage — reforming the Legislative Council to a more democratic body, restoring confidence in the economy, and demonstrating that government exists to serve the public interest rather than factional power.
Stevens modelled the qualities Australia now lacks: discipline, integrity, competence, and the willingness to confront ideological extremism without flinching.
Our Mission
The Sir Bertram Stevens Institute exists to continue that tradition.
We promote and defend the principles that sustain a free and ordered society — constitutionalism, civic responsibility, personal integrity, and honest government. We oppose bureaucratic drift, managerial groupthink, and the comfortable cowardice that rewards opportunism instead of leadership.
We do three things:
Leadership formation:
We cultivate future conservative leaders and activists — people of character, courage, and clarity.
Campaign training and mobilisation:
We train people in the practical skills of politics: fundraising, strategy, message discipline, and grassroots organisation.
Public-policy development and advocacy:
We generate and advance bold ideas that challenge the cultural and political orthodoxy and renew the institutions of liberal democracy in New South Wales and Australia.
We are not a spectator organisation.
We don’t commentate on politics — we prepare people to shape it.
Our Parliamentary Patrons
Our Legislative Assembly Patron
The Hon. Anthony Roberts MP
Anthony Roberts MP is the long-serving Member for Lane Cove in the NSW Legislative Assembly and serves as the Father of the House - the most senior current member of the Legislative Assembly by length of continuous service.
Elected in March 2003, Mr Roberts has represented Lane Cove for more than two decades. Over that time, he has built a reputation as a serious legislator and a steadfast conservative voice in New South Wales public life.
Throughout his parliamentary career, Mr Roberts has been entrusted with a succession of senior ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Homes, Minister for Planning, Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections, Minister for Housing, Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Fair Trading, and Special Minister of State.
He also served for an extended period as Leader of the House, managing the Government’s legislative program across multiple parliaments.
Before entering state politics, Mr Roberts served the local community with distinction in local government as Deputy Mayor of Lane Cove from 1998 to 1999, Mayor from 1999 to 2000, and again as Mayor from 2001 to 2002.
Mr Roberts has been a member of the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) since 1992, and a former Captain in the Australian Army Reserve.
Our Legislative Council Patron
The Hon. Rachel Merton MLC
The Hon. Rachel Merton has served in the NSW Legislative Council since March 2023 and quickly established herself as a clear, principled conservative voice in the Upper House.
In her maiden speech to Parliament, Ms Merton set out a worldview grounded in liberal democracy, constitutional monarchy, faith, and individual liberty.
Within the Parliament, Ms Merton serves as Deputy Chair of Portfolio Committee No. 3 – Education and is a member of the Standing Committee on Social Issues and the Committee on the Ombudsman, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and the Crime Commission. She also sits on the Select Committee on Access Restrictions to Public Lands and Waterways and is a Substitute Member of Portfolio Committee No. 1 – Premier and Finance.
Before entering Parliament, Ms Merton held senior roles in government and professional services. She served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services from 2022 to 2023 and was previously a Board Member of the Australian Classification Board between 2019 and 2022. Her career also included senior government relations and risk management roles at KPMG Australia and earlier service in Commonwealth ministerial offices during the Howard Government.
A member of the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) since 1991, Ms Merton has been active in the party’s organisational life for more than three decades.