Australian Institute of International Affairs Victoria
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Australian Institute of International Affairs Victoria ACN : 004 560 829 ABN : 42 727 001 279 ANNUAL REPORT 2006/2007 Registered Office: Dyason House, 124 Jolimont Road, East Melbourne, VIC 3002 OFFICE BEARERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AS AT 30 June 2007 VISITOR Professor David De Kretser AC, Governor of Victoria PATRONS The Rt. Hon Sir Zelman Cowen, AK, GCMG, GCVO The Rt. Hon Sir Ninian Stephen, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE The Hon. Sir James Gobbo, AC CVO John Landy, AC CVO MBE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT Professor John McKay VICE PRESIDENTS Ms Trish Ritman Mr Graham Barrett HONORARY TREASURER Mr Greg Romanes IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Ms Zara Kimpton EXECUTIVE OFFICER Miss Annette Nicol COUNCIL Dr Paul Battersby Ms Margaret Papst Ms Jane Blaxland Mrs Pat Pettit Ms Robyn Byrne Dr Margaret Rees Jones Ms Annick Cable Ms Judy Rothacker Dr Barry Coldrey Mr Leslie Rowe Dr Carlos De Lemos Mr Alistair Urquhart Ms Toni Feddersen Ms Annette Webb Mr Richard Houlihan Mr Ian Wilcock The Hon. Michael MacKellar Mr William Wilson COMMITTEES Finance Chair: Greg Romanes Membership Chair: Margaret Rees Jones Program Chair: Graham Barrett Consular Committee Chair: Margaret Papst Academic Links, Research & Publications Chair: John McKay VCE Schools Program Chair: Judy Rothacker Volunteers & Interns Chair: Annick Cable ACCESS Chair: Annick Cable Fundraising Chair: Greg Romanes Study Tour Chair: Zara Kimpton Corporate Chair: Greg Romanes Institutional Chair: Barry Coldrey Diplomatic Links Chair: Carlos De Lemos House Chair: Annette Webb Garden Chair: Annette Nicol DFAT Links Chair: Ian Wilcock Library Chair: Pat Pettit Publicity Chair: Robyn Byrne Database Chair: Alistair Urquhart International Careers Conference Chair: Trish Ritman Website / IT Chair: Annette Nicol AIIAV 2006/2007 Annual Report Page 2 of 24 ABOUT US he Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) is an independent organisation which promotes the objective study of International affairs. It has no political biases and hears all views. Established as a federal organisation in 1933, the Institute has its national T headquarters at Stephen House in Canberra, and branches in all states and territories. Like its sister Institutes in New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and India, it is affiliated with the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London. The AIIA provides a forum for discussion and research on subjects of topical and continuing interest through meetings, conferences and seminars addressed by distinguished specialists and public figures. Over the years these meetings have contributed much to informing public opinion on international affairs and have assisted the development of the Australian Diplomatic Service and the study of international issues in Australia. Founded in 1925, the AIIA Victoria has included many notable authorities on international affairs, amongst them being Sir John Latham, Sir Owen Dixon, Sir Ian Clunies Ross, E.C. Dyason and Professors Norman Harper and Macmahon Ball. The AIIA is housed in Dyason House, named after E.C. Dyason, a prominent past member and one of its most generous benefactors. Membership is open to any individuals who are Australian residents, to corporate bodies, to diplomatic representatives, schools and students. PRESIDENT’S REPORT A Growing and Dynamic Institute A Full and Varied Program The year up to June 30th 2007 was Our program continued to expand another very successful one for the AIIA its horizons and develop new and Victoria, building on the hard work that wider streams of contact with the has been put in over the last few years. community. We launched a new In summary, the most important annual dinner with an oration in highlights of the year were: honour of our long-serving Senior Patron Sir Zelman Cowen, with the ß A lively and innovative program of some first event addressed in appropriate fashion 70 events over the year. by the director of our parent organisation in ß A consolidation of our financial position, the UK, the Royal Institute of International with continued growth of revenue. Affairs, Professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas, ß An expanding membership, which by the who reviewed the state of the world as seen end of the year stood at more than 600. by Chatham House, and in particular assessed a future in which China will be a ß The organisation of a second much more important player. International Careers Conference, with large attendance of students from all We brought to a distinguished conclusion universities in Victoria. our Collins Street series of lunch addresses under the "World According to Bush" banner, ß A continued series of special lectures for with the Australian newspaper's foreign Year 12 students in International Politics, editor, Greg Sheridan, and one of Australia's including an end-of-year revision session. leading defence specialists, Professor Hugh ß More progress in our continued efforts to White of the ANU, following a succession of upgrade Dyason House. prominent US and Australian scholars and ß Continued planning for a study tour to diplomats in an initiative launched last India to be held in late 2007. financial year by the Foreign Minister, ß Planning for an expanded research role Alexander Downer. To succeed the Bush for the Institute. series we devised a lunch series, also in Collins Street, entitled "Global Business ß Collaboration with the AIIA National Office Prospects" in which we could in the organisation of a number of events. survey opportunities and challenges for AIIAV 2006/2007 Annual Report Page 3 of 24 Australia in a globalising and increasingly A Healthy Financial Position prosperous world. It was launched by the visiting South African Finance Minister, Trevor The Institute recorded a strong result for Manuel, with our ambassador to Washington, the financial year ending 30 June 2007. Dennis Richardson, and the Indian High Thanks to some generous donations, a Commissioner as early speakers. bequest and successful functions we have We have also introduced a popular initiative recorded a surplus of $61,808. with Readings Bookshop to showcase and This should be viewed as an extraordinary launch new and important volumes relating to result and one that is unlikely to be foreign affairs, with a monthly meeting at one repeated in the short term. I would like to of their branches with the author or a guest place on record the significant financial speaker to discuss a new publication. We benefit the Institute has received by way of have also continued to hold book launches at donations from Zara Kimpton ($11,000) Dyason House and these have included an and Richard Morgan ($2,000), a bequest address by Michael Wesley who introduced from Prue Myer ($5,000) and from the hard his new book on the Prime Minister, John work that went into the VCE, ICC and the Sir Howard, and his foreign policy, especially in Zelman Cowen Oration. relation to Asia. Members should note that, in general, the Our traditional program stream at Dyason core operations of the Institute (weekly House continued to straddle the globe with functions, property rental and many fine speakers and the widest possible subscriptions) meet our annual running range of topics. Asia continued to feature, costs and any surplus recorded usually with events including a look at regional reflects a successful year in areas such as security, the future of Japan, several talks on donations, bequests and functions - as terrorism in South-East Asia with noted mentioned above. speakers such as Sidney Jones of the The Institute has adequate cash reserves International Crisis Group and Professor Tim but these could be used by major work on Lindsay of the University of Melbourne, Japan- Dyason House, due to regulatory China relations and India-China relations, requirements or repairs, and to this end we developments in Thailand, the new crisis in have commissioned reports on Building East Timor, North Korea, India's rise and a Safety and OH&S to quantify our forum on APEC. Farther afield, among other obligations. topics, we covered the Darfur tragedy with three speakers from Oxfam Australia, what We have also undertaken to perform certain Islam is really all about with the University of remodelling to the building in the foyer and Melbourne's Professor Abdullah Sae'ed, a office areas. We expect this expense will be look at Australia's exposure in the Middle incurred during the first half of the 2007 - East, a view of Iran's nuclear ambitions from a 08 financial year, whilst the generous top US scholar, Professor Anthony donations to fund this work were brought to Cordesman, new leadership at the United book in the last financial year. Nations, the global economy, US foreign policy Continued Growth in Membership with two prominent American thinkers, the climate change debate, the threat of nuclear Once again our numbers are encouraging. proliferation, the global knowledge economy, As at 30 June 2007 we had 579 financial and, for a sense of perspective, a global members, with 25 honorary members. survey of happiness. Included in the latter category are speakers, patrons, honorary members and three To complement our speaking programme we names on a free list. continued our series of ambassadorial Corporate members include three full fee- lunches or evening events hosted at Dyason paying: Shell, Connell Wagner/IDSS and House, with guests including the ExxonMobil and six who provide representatives of the European Commission, sponsorship: ANZ, BHP, Citigroup, The Age, South Korea, Latvia and Argentina and our Roy Morgan Research and Rio Tinto. envoys to South Africa and Russia. Student membership has risen by a further A full list of events organised during the year 130 since 30 June and it has been is attached to this report. suggested we reconsider the length of AIIAV 2006/2007 Annual Report Page 4 of 24 membership given in conjunction with the office so that we can use the space more International Careers Conference.