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Annual Review for 2006-2007

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Annual Review for 2006-2007 Australian Institute of International Affairs Annual Review 2006-2007 © 2007 Australian Institute of International Affairs 32 Thesiger Court, Deakin ACT 2600, Australia PHONE: 02 6282 2133 - FACSIMILE: 02 6285 2334 WEBSITE: www.aiia.asn.au Who We Are The Australian Institute of International Affairs was World Affairs series as well as occasional papers and established in 1924 and formed as a national body in conference proceedings. Members receive a sub- 1933 to promote public understanding of and interest scription to The Diplomat through a cooperative ar- in international affairs. It is an independent, non- rangement. partisan, non-profit organisation with over 1600 members across 7 state and territory branches. The The AIIA offers a number of ways to get involved: AIIA does not express any opinion on international membership, events, publishing, youth networks, affairs. It provides a forum for the presentation and education programs, donation and volunteering. For discussion of a wide range of views through its vari- more information please visit www.aiia.asn.au. ous events, publications and educational programs. The AIIA has been honoured by the involvement of many distinguished figures including: Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, Former Chief Justices Sir Garfield Barwick, Sir John Latham and Sir Owen Dixon, Former Governor General Lord Casey, and distinguished Australians Sir Ian Clunies Ross, Sir Richard Boyer, Sir Russel Madigan and E.C. Dyason. His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, the Governor-General of Aus- tralia, is the AIIA’s Honorary Visitor. The AIIA hosted almost 200 events in 2006-7 on HE Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC, the current international issues of concern to Australia. It Governor-General of Australia and AIIA’s Honorary Visi- publishes the highly-ranked Australian Journal of tor, is pictured here hosting a reception at Admiralty International Affairs and long-standing Australia in House following the National President’s Forum in 2006. At a Glance 7 – AIIA State and Territory Branches 13 – Languages spoken by staff and interns at the National Office 16 – Interns placed with National Office over the past year 28 – Worldwide citation ranking of the Australian Journal of International Affairs 45 – Schools with AIIA Victoria membership 46 – Percent membership increase since 2005 49 – Ambassadors and consuls with AIIA membership 55 – Years the AIIA has tracked Australian foreign policy in its publication Australia in World Affairs 108 – Volunteer AIIA office-bearers around the country 192 – AIIA events during the 2006-7 year 254 – Institutional subscribers to the Australian Journal of International Affairs 600 – People who attended an AIIA careers conference 1277 – Copies sold of the current volume of Australia in World Affairs: Trading on Alliance Security 1650 – The number of AIIA members nationwide as of 30 June 2007 2005 – Students who attended AIIA VIC international relations program 5902 – Average visits to the AIIA’s website www.aiia.asn.au per month 1 National President’s Report Australian involvement in international relations was Valued assistance prominent in 2006-7 through armed forces partici- from intern volunteers pating overseas, interaction with neighbours, and our has enabled the Na- importance as a major exporter of resources in a time tional Office to hold of strong demand. Future energy security is increas- several expert semi- ingly significant worldwide. Traditional sovereignty nars for invited partici- continued to be affected by borderless causes while pants, but we aim to varied quality of governance of nations ensures con- re-establish National tinuing focus on international security. Australia’s events open to all relations with others, particularly in our region, are members when fund- of great significance to us while (desirably) being ing allows. less sensational than many items featured in the news. Although the “attraction of the immediate” While we have varied places our program lower in ratings, some AIIA income sources, the Australian Institute of Interna- events this year attracted significant media comment. tional Affairs is again indebted to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for its co-operation and It is pleasing to note that our aim of spreading the significant financial assistance, to the Attorney Gen- word domestically on the importance of international eral’s Department and Nygh family for donations to relations is assisted by a 15% increase in member- the Nygh Internship Fund, and to those sponsors ship over the previous year, now standing above listed in this Review. We note with thanks pro-bono 1600. Some Branches have particularly aimed at in- assistance provided by Allen Arthur Robinson. creasing younger membership with careers days, while the NSW ACCESS youth network has been The Australian Institute of International Affairs with adopted by AIIA VIC and ACT Branches, with simi- its federal structure has the consequent need for lar success. Relatively few Australian organisations strong cooperation between components to remain dependent on overseas activities are corporate mem- effective. I am pleased that such cooperation is bers. We are grateful for our present corporate mem- strong and growing, and I thank all concerned. bership but need to work to communicate our rele- vance and attraction to many others. At year end Professor William Tow retired as Editor of our flagship journal, Australian Journal of Inter- During the year the commemorative Peter Nygh national Affairs. He leaves with our warmest thanks Hague Conference Internship was launched, estab- and best wishes, as we welcome Professor Michael lished in cooperation with the Australian chapter of Wesley as incoming Editor. the International Law Association and the Nygh fam- ily. First awardee was Zoë Justice, who will com- 2008 will provide a reason to celebrate the 75th anni- plete an internship with the Hague Conference on versary of the establishment of the Australian Insti- Private International Law. The generosity of the tute of International Affairs, independent of the Nygh family and others who have contributed lights Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham the way for the AIIA to launch other relevant initia- House. Please join in. tives as funds allow. Clive Hildebrand Sustainability of National Office activity at present National President levels requires more paid resources than our one salaried employee, a part-time Executive Director. 2 National Executive Director’s Report One of the privileges of site or building the AIIA’s international links. Fi- stewardship of a vener- nally, National Office has focused on re-instituting able organization is policy events as a complement to Branches’ focus on blending the new with public debate. You will find a record of these activi- the old. Like people, ties in the pages that follow. organizations go through “life stages”. Particularly pleasing is the increase in membership At almost 75, the Aus- benefits that the AIIA has been able to achieve, in- tralian Institute of Inter- cluding a substantial increase in speakers, conference national Affairs is re- and publication discounts and cooperative arrange- fusing to age gracefully ments such as with the New Zealand Institute of In- and is enjoying some- ternational Affairs, which enables travelling AIIA thing of a renaissance. members to receive reciprocal membership benefits Membership is growing strongly, we continue to re- in New Zealand. vive a number of national initiatives and we are in- creasingly connecting with young people with an You will also find many thanks to the people that interest in the tumultuous international events sur- make the AIIA’s work possible. Above all, the AIIA rounding them. remains a voluntary organization that could not exist without the time given by our Council members, of- Despite dire predications in the 1980s of the AIIA’s fice-bearers, interns and other volunteers across the gradual conversion into a retirement club, it is clear country. With a tiny paid staff, the AIIA is a true ex- that this has not eventuated. Looking around the ample of a civil society organization that is run by country we can see a vibrant scene including careers and for its members and for the public good. fairs, schools program and ACCESS youth networks to supplement the AIIA’s core program of meetings The AIIA looks forward to continuing growth in and publications. In 2008, the AIIA is looking to- 2008 in the AIIA’s 75th year as a national institution. wards a re-launch of the Young Diplomats Program Our mission of promoting public understanding and and extending youth initiatives across the country. interest in international affairs remains as relevant today as ever. At a grassroots level, the AIIA is very strong: as shown by the list of events and Branch reports in this Annual Review. Our publications continue to stimu- late debate and provide a long-term historical record of Australia’s foreign policy. We have strong inter- Melissa H. Conley Tyler national links and ongoing positive relations with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. National Executive Director In the 18 months since I was appointed, I’ve been focusing on bringing National Office to a level that can support national growth. Some of this work has been internal: such as promoting national coopera- tion through cross-Branch Working Groups. Effort has been put into increased promotion – such as through media contacts, improving the AIIA’s web-
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