Facing Up to South Africa's Challenges, Ms Ann Harrap, Australian High Commissioner to South Africa

Hosted by: AIIA Victoria

The event will start on: Monday, 13 September 2010 5:30 PM

And will end on: Monday, 13 September 2010 7:00 PM

At Dyason House

124 Jolimont Road East , Melbourne Victoria

03 9654 7271    

Posted by: vic   

This year South Africa successfully hosted the soccer World Cup and in so doing proved wrong the many critics and Afro-pessimists who were convinced that an African country could not deliver a major sporting event.

But in the wider context of a nation still recovering from apartheid, can the momentum from the World Cup be sustained?  Will the South African Government be able to show similar resolve to address the many challenges that have constrained the country since the first multi-racial general election of 1974, ranging as they do from corruption and violent crime to high joblessness and residual racial tensions?

Australia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ms Ann Harrap, will offer her observations and explain why her own report card for South Africa would read:  "Average, with flashes of brilliance, but could do better".

Ms Harrap is an experienced career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which she joined in 1992 after being recruited by someone who is now an AIIAV vice president, Les Rowe.  Her first overseas posting was to South Africa from 1994-1997, returning at the end of 2008 when she was appointed as Australia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique and Angola.

In between those postings she served in London and Port Moresby, and held a number of positions in Canberra, including as an adviser to the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer. Ms Harrap holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Queensland and a graduate diploma in foreign affairs and trade from the Australian National University.

Event Flyer

Tickets payable at the door :

• Members                      $20
• Non-Members                $30
• Student 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.