From The President’s Desk – May 2011
May Speakers
Another diverse range of interesting speakers this month.  We begin with a joint ACT Branch/ANU Japan Association event commencing at 6pm on Tuesday 10 May at our conference centre entitled The Implications for Japan of the March 2011 Tsunami. Presentations will be given by a panel of experts including Professor Kent Anderson Shun Ikeda and Tessa Morris-Suzuki from ANU.

On Wednesday 18 May at 5.30pm, we are delighted to advise that the Secretary of DFAT, Dennis Richardson AO, will present on DFAT’s activities and challenges. The venue for this event also is our conference centre.

At the end of the month, on Tuesday 31 May, again at our conference centre (time to be advised), James Larsen, Australia’s Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, will speak on the challenges that the government faces in this complex issue.

We are also planning a joint event at ANU between our Youth group and other ANU societies in May on the issue of Wikileaks. The aim will be to discuss the pros and cons of “the public’s right to know”. Further details will be advised once finalised.

National Office will also be holding a major event on 6/7 June at the Hedley Bull Centre at ANU entitled Forum on Public and Citizen Diplomacy.  Speakers will include specialists in these areas from both Australia and overseas.  All Branch members are welcome to attend.

Please refer to separate flyers advertising each of the above events

Previous Speakers
Sincere thanks to our April speakers, Fergus Hanson of the Lowy Institute and Professor Hal Hill of ANU for their very interesting presentations on E Diplomacy and ASEAN respectively.

Our Website
We are progressively upgrading our website, and the effect is terrific. Thanks to Lindsey Richie and Cameron Hawker for their input. If you have not visited our website recently, I highly recommend a look.

A New Computer
We recently upgraded our computer from an aging and donated desktop version to a modern laptop.  This upgrade is long overdue, and in particular gives us the ability to provide computer support for power-point (we previously had to borrow someone else’s computer for this).

Overseas Representation
I very was privileged to be invited to participate in the annual meeting of the Trilateral Commission, which was held this year during 8 - 10 April in Washington D.C.  The Commission is an organisation that brings together senior business leaders and academics from North America, Asia and Europe to discuss global issues of mutual concern.  I represented Asia/Pacific in a panel discussion on cyber security issues. My participation included presenting on Australian Government-led initiatives in this area, and also on regional initiatives in support of the ASEAN Regional Forum by representatives of the Council for Security Cooperation in Asia Pacific (CSCAP) who met in Malaysia in March (I represented Australia at this meeting).
The Commission held a separate session on Afghanistan/Pakistan and the text of my presentation to the Branch on 4 November 2010 on Pakistan: Security Challenges (copy available on the Branch website) was one of two papers circulated prior to that session.

Although my attendance at both the Commission and CSCAP events was not directly related to the AIIA, I was featured in my AIIA capacity in Washington, and many of those present at the CSCAP meeting in Malaysia also belonged to sister organisations of the AIIA.  Both were excellent occasions to showcase and network on behalf of the AIIA.

Events by Other Organisations
The USI ACT have two events planned for May. On 4 May, at 6pm at the Spender Theatre  at the Australian Defence College (ADC), AVM John Blackburn (Rtd)  and Dr Gary Waters will present on "Optimising  Australia's Response to to the Cyber Challenge", the subject of a recent Kokoda Foundation report on the cyber challenge faced by Australia. On 18 May at 5pm at the public theatrette, Russell Offices, Building R1, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Yoji Koda  of the Asia Centre at Harvard University will speak on "A Japanese View of Australia's Role in Regional Security". Those intending to attend the former event should contact the USIACT on 62663446 to arrange access to the ADC.  No prior clearance is required to access the public theatrette at R1.
 

 
Ian Dudgeon
May 2011