The annual Indonesia-Australia Dialogue was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Sydney, on Sunday 3 March and Monday 4 March. The Indonesia-Australia Dialogue initiative was jointly announced by leaders during the March 2010 visit to Australia by Indonesian President Yudhoyono as a bilateral second track dialogue to enhance people-to-people links between the two countries. The objective of the Indonesia-Australia Dialogue was to facilitate people-to-people links through discussion on a broad range of topics. Discussions covered domestic, regional and global issues and explored opportunities for closer engagement in business, culture, education, science and technology.

This, the second Indonesia-Australia Dialogue, was co-convened by Mr John McCarthy, AIIA National President and former Ambassador to Indonesia, and Dr Rizal Sukma, Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The AIIA was again selected by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to act as secretariat following its performance at the inaugural Dialogue.

Indonesian participants include the former Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, the Chief Editor of the Jakarta Post, Meidyatama Suryadiningrat, and Sandra Hamid from the Asia Foundation. Australian participants include Stephen Creese from Newcrest Mining, Professor Tim Lindsay from the University of Melbourne and former Australian of the Year, burns specialist Professor Fiona Wood.

Thanks are due to the Commonwealth Bank for its sponsorship of a welcome lunch for this event.

For a complete list of Dialogue Participants and biographical information click here:  combined-bios-for-print-actual (753.35 kB)

For the Indonesia-Australia Dialogue Program click here:  Indonesia-Australia Dialogue Program (328.21 kB)

For the Outcomes report click here:  outcomes-report-for-iad2013 (355.64 kB)

To access Bob Carr’s speech click here: http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2013/bc_sp_130304.html

To access Julie Bishop’s speech click here: http://www.juliebishop.com.au/speeches/1223-address-to-australia-indonesia-dialogue.html

Roundtable with Mozambique President HE Armando Emilio Guebuza

 Forum on Former Ministers for Foreign Affairs

14 March 2013

19 Feb 2013

The AIIA was delighted to receive His Excellency Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique, for a roundtable discussion followed by a light lunch on Thursday 14 March 2013. The Presidential Party was accompanied by HE Graeme Wilson, High Commissioner to South Africa, Mozambique and numerous other African countries. Nine ambassadors and high commissioners from African and Portugese speaking countries were also in attendance as well as representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade, AusAID, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Australia Africa Business Council, the Minerals Council of Australia, the University of Melbourne, Flinders University and ANU. Topics of discussion leading from the President's opening remarks included the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Community of Portugese Language Countries (CPLP) as well as bilateral relations. The AIIA was very pleased with the excellent response to the event and the discussion that ensued. A copy of the President's speech is available below, as well as the AIIA's Event Program and Outcomes Report.

 Address by HE Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique (133.98 kB)

 Event Program (65.24 kB)

 Outcomes Report (475.07 kB)

On 19 February 2013, the AIIA hosted a highly successful Forum on Former Ministers for Foreign Affiars, following the well-received forum in February 2010 discussing the life, work and achievements of The Right Honourable R. G. Casey. The Forum in 2013 brought together some of Australia’s  most  eminent  academics  and  experts in international relations, and former senior diplomats and government officials to discuss the life, work and achievements of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs serving in the period of 1960-72. The Forum focused on their individual contributions and influence on Australian foreign policy thinking.

To watch the Forum click here:

• South-East Asia: Confrontation and the Vietnam War Part A
• South-East Asia: Confrontation and the Vietnam War Part B
• Memories of Serving Australian Interests Abroad 
• Closing Remarks

For a PDF copy of the book click here:  R.G. Casey: Minister for External Affairs 1951- 60 (7.49 MB)

Alternatively, a hard copy can also be purchased through: Order Form (530.99 kB)

The Australian Institute of International Affairs’ National President’s Forum on “Australia in the Asian Century” was held in Sydney on 23-24 August 2012 at NSW Parliament House and Glover Cottages.
The Forum focused on the key issues for Australia’s engagement with Asia to coincide with the final stages of preparation of the Government White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century.

For the outcomes report click here:  National President’s Forum Outcomes Report (6.62 MB)

For the closing summary click here: closing-summary (120.82 kB)

For a copy of the program click here: aiia-npf-program (175.82 kB)

The Australian Institute of International Affairs, in partnership with the University of Wollongong and the Wollongong City Council, invited members of the public to attend its inaugural Town Hall meeting on international affairs in Wollongong.

The general public was invited to join expert speakers to discuss the forthcoming White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century. This was a chance to get involved in the national debate about transformations in the Asian region and learn about the White Paper process from experts in the field. The purpose of this event was to give the audience the opportunity to engage directly in an important national debate.

 Outcomes Report Wollongong Town Hall Meeting (3.15 MB)

1-4 Apr 2012

At the 53rd International Studies Association Annual Convention held in San Diego, AIIA Director Melissa Conley Tyler convened a roundtable of representatives of institutes of international affairs from around the world to share experiences of utilising new technologies in their work.

Roundtable participants presented on institutes’ current and potential use of new technologies and shared specific recommendations for improving their institutes’ impact. Outputs include an improved sense of how new technologies have affected institutes of international affairs as civil society organisations.

This roundtable followed on from a successful roundtable at the 2010 ISA Convention and an earlier meeting of 39 institute representatives in 2008 at the Australian Institute of International Affairs’ 75th Anniversary National Conference.

 Institutes of International Affairs in the Information Age (702.69 kB)

On Wednesday February 15, the AIIA hosted a seminar on the topic "The Smart Power Capability Requirements of a Middle Power". The seminar brought together influential figures from government, defence, industry, academia and the media to examine Smart Power in an Australian context and to discuss its utility in promoting Australian national interests internationally. Findings and recommendations of the seminar will be presented in a report to government.

Joseph Nye's Address

 AIIA Smart Power Report

 Program (210.29 kB)

 Outcomes Report (713.74 kB)