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Michael Short

Michael Short is The Age's chief editorial writer, as well as a columnist. He is a board member and ambassador of a number of organisations, and is a frequent public speaker and moderator. He is generally bemused, and is thus particularly grateful to his wife Sophie and their three children Edie, Tom and Clem for trying patiently and tenderly to help him through the whole thing. He quite likes open fires, walking his dog and sitting for long periods in the bath.

Australian actress Rachel Griffiths (left) and Hagar CEO Jo Pride appear before a Modern Slavery Inquiry at Parliament ...

There's more than one way to run a business

Ethical investment funds outperform mainstream competitors, year after year. Economically and socially, investors, managers, employees, customers and suppliers benefit.

Illustration: Matt Davidson.

Four laws that have to change. Immediately

People know when the law has become an ass. The collective wisdom and wit of the crowd winnows well. It is the citizenry rather than the polity that tends to lead cultural and legislative change.

The Foster family in January 1988. From left: Emma, 6, Aimee, 2, Chrissie, Katie, 4, and Anthony.

Why happiness is overrated - and why contentment is a better measure

In recent days, a great Australian man was farewelled, some of the most despicable Australian men were prevented from leaving our land and a disgraced Melbourne (former) teacher who induced his nine-year-old students to massage him and told them tales of incest, violence and cruelty lost his ridiculous case for unfair dismissal in the Fair Work Commission.

Rich Bartlett came out publicly as gay in a speech to his entire school.

Coming out and showing the way

There are uplifting narratives alleviating the bleakness. This is one of them. It's about guts, kindness and authentic leadership, writes Michael Short.