The Trade with China that Changed History

The Honourable Michael Pembroke, author, retired judge and a new member will address our October meeting. He practiced as a lawyer from 1978 and was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2010. He has written many books on a wide variety of subjects.

Michael grew up in England, Australia and Singapore. He completed his schooling at St Ignatius College, Riverview and then studied arts/law at Sydney University, subsequently obtaining a Master of Laws at Cambridge University. He studied French and Indian history at university intending to become a diplomat but afterwards succumbed to the law.

Michael commenced practice at Freehill Hollingdale in July 1978 and commenced practice at the bar in 1982. He joined 12th Floor Wentworth Chambers in 1984 and was appointed senior counsel in 1995, practicing widely in commercial law.

Outside practice at the bar, Michael was a member of the London Court of International Arbitration, chair of the Appeal Tribunal of the Australian Stock Exchange, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of the St James Ethics Centre.

Michael’s many books include Arthur Phillip - Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy (2013), an historical biography that was short-listed for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards; Korea - Where the American Century Began (2018), a military and political critique that was short-listed for the Queensland Literary Awards and the NSW Premier’s History Awards; Play By the Rules (2020), a polemic about American leadership that was published in the United States as America in Retreat(2021) and Trees of History & Romance (2009), exploring folklore, culture, literary and poetic connections with trees in the author’s garden.

Michael’s new book, Silk Silver Opium will be available to purchase at our October Probus meeting for $37.99