From the Heart of West Africa

Hosted by: AIIA Victoria

The event will start on: Thursday, 21 July 2011 5:30 PM

And will end on: Thursday, 21 July 2011 7:00 PM

At Dyason House

124 Jolimont Road East , Melbourne Victoria

03 9654 7271     events.vic@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: vic   

No part of the world seems more mysterious or forbidding than West Africa.  Australians think of it as a region of equatorial extremes, of being beset by poverty, disease and conflict.  We reflect on the dismal colonial period including the horrors of slavery, and on a post-independence record that appears to be far from successful.

Yet West Africa, for all its problems, has a rich store of humanity, hope and promise.  At the heart of this highly diverse region is Nigeria, a populous giant that is pursuing democracy in the face of many internal tensions, and from whose perspective we will examine the region's progress and focus on where Australia's interests lie.

Following two recent AIIAV events on East Africa, we are pleased to turn our attention to another, profoundly different, part of the continent.

Mr Ian McConville is Australia's High Commissioner in Abuja, Nigeria, with non-resident accreditation to a wide range of other West African states: The Gambia, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Niger, Gabon and Benin.

He was previously High Commissioner in Mauritius with accreditation to Comoros, Madagascar and Seychelles.  Mr McConville has also served in Phnom Penh and Islamabad and has held a number of senior positions in Canberra with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Event flyer:   AIIAV 2011 McConville Ian HE Mr 21.07.11 (130.17 kB)

Pre-payment welcomed, or payment at the door:

• AIIA members $20
• Non-members $30
• Student AIIA members $10
• Student non-members $15

If you plan to attend this function, please advise us at least 1 day before the event.

Snacks and refreshments will be served.