Asialink Impact Report 2013 COPYRIGHT Published by Asialink © Asialink 2013 ASIALINK Level 4, Sidney Myer Asia Centre The University of Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia +61 3 8344 4800 asialink.unimelb.edu.au CONTENTS Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr speaks at the Chairman’s Lunch. Messages from the Chairman and CEO .......................................................................................03 Background .................................................................................................................................04 Asialink Highlights ........................................................................................................................06 Corporate and Public Programs ..................................................................................................08 Business and Diplomacy .............................................................................................................12 Asia Education Foundation ..........................................................................................................16 Arts .............................................................................................................................................18 Asia Australia Mental Health ........................................................................................................22 Media and Communications ........................................................................................................24 Our Board and Patrons ................................................................................................................26 Our Corporate Partners ...............................................................................................................27 Our Executive Staff ......................................................................................................................28 Asialink Impact Report 2013 01 For over twenty years, Asialink has been promoting understanding between Australia and its Asian neighbours, through high quality programs in the broad field of public diplomacy. Senator The Hon Bob Carr, Australian Foreign Minister, Sydney, 26 October 2012 Asialink [is] making a significant contribution to… better understanding and policy-making between ASEAN and Australia. By exploring issues of common concern and creating new strengthened networks of leaders in ASEAN and Australia, Asialink Conversations has much to offer in the Track 2 regional policy dialogue. HE U Wunna Maung Lwin, Foreign Minister of Myanmar, Yangon, 3 February 2012 Asialink has been ahead of the game in encouraging ‘Asia literacy’ in Australia… [I] commend Asialink for its contribution to fostering Australia’s relations with Asia. Gillian Bird, DFAT Deputy Secretary and Ambassador to ASEAN, Melbourne, 20 February 2012 I can think of no organisation with a more distinguished history of developing the ability and mindset for engaging with Asia [than Asialink]. The Hon Richard Marles MP, Australian Minister for Trade, Canberra, 8 July 2013 Asialink is ahead of the game. This organisation is more than twenty years old. The Asia Capable Workforce Strategy is a clear sign both of its maturity and its enduring – indeed, expanding – relevance. Dr Ken Henry AC, Australia in the Asian Century Task Force Chair, Sydney, 6 September 2012 02 Asialink Impact Report 2013 FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO 2012 was a landmark year in Australia-Asia relations, Asialink continued to nurture and build strong regional not just for Asialink but for the whole country. partnerships in 2012. We have provided opportunities The release of the Australia in the Asian Century for more school educators to experience Asia through Government White Paper marked a turning point in study programs. We have partnered with health the history of our engagement with the Asian region. ministries across the region to improve mental health Above all, the White Paper expressed a clear intention services. We have delivered an extensive arts and to stay the course in Asia, through constant, consistent cultural program across India. And we have formed engagement across sectors. lasting bonds between Australians and key decision- makers in Myanmar. Asialink has been leading the way in Asian engagement for over 20 years, and 2012 marked a further Asialink has also been active in providing essential intensification of this engagement. And we are still policy recommendations to Australian governments and leading. This year, we worked in countries where we the business sector through the publication of reports have never worked before, holding a first-of-its kind such as Developing an Asia Capable Workforce: A dialogue in Yangon, Myanmar. National Strategy and Our Place in the Asian Century: Southeast Asia as ‘The Third Way’. We continue to We also broached new territory closer to home, work toward an appropriately Asia-relevant Australian establishing a permanent presence in Sydney and curriculum. launching an Asialink chapter in Singapore. These pages are testament to the work of a committed We hope you will find this summary of our impact in and talented staff at Asialink. On behalf of the team, we 2012 valuable, and we encourage you to be part of the invite you to reflect on our year in 2012 as we prepare Asialink journey in 2013. for a full program of activities in 2013. Sid Myer AM Jenny McGregor Chairman CEO Asialink Asialink Asialink Impact Report 2013 03 BACKGROUND Asialink is an initiative of The University of Melbourne and the Myer Foundation. It is Australia’s leading centre for the promotion of Asia capability, public understanding of Asia and appreciation of Australia’s role in the Asian region. Asialink’s annual program of initiatives spans the arts, education, business, and community sectors. Throughout 2012, Asialink has strengthened its engagement with governments, business sectors, educators, and cultural organisations in Asia and Australia. Its significance as an Australian institution with a history of more than 20 years was recognised publicly through the Australian Government’s Australia in the Asian Century White Paper. 04 Asialink Impact Report 2013 3,900 Audience members at Asialink events in 2012 Mission Programs Asialink’s mission is to build an Asia Corporate and Public Programs Arts capable, deeply Asia-engaged Australia, through innovative programs that build These programs provide a range of Asialink Arts aims to promote cultural knowledge, skills and partnerships. forums and print and online publications understanding, information exchange to build Asia capability in the business, and artistic endeavour between Australia government, academic and broader and Asian countries. It does this Reach communities. Asialink’s second track through reciprocal residencies, touring diplomacy initiatives bring together exhibitions, and its writing program. Asialink delivers high-level forums, influential participants from across international collaborations, and Asia and from Australia to help solve Asia Australia Mental Health education and cultural programs issues of common concern and in Australia and Asia. Our work contribute to building closer Asia- The organisation’s community health engages the business, philanthropic, Australia relationships. program, Asia Australia Mental Health media, arts, education, health and (AAMH), is a consortium of St Vincent’s community sectors. Asia Education Foundation Health, the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Melbourne and Asialink’s education arm, the Asia Asialink. AAMH partners with academic, Education Foundation (AEF), is a joint government, community organisations activity of Asialink and Education and peak bodies in Asia and Australia to Services Australia. The AEF provides support culturally appropriate community teachers, education leaders and school based mental health reform in the Asia- communities with innovative programs, Pacific region. curriculum resources and networks to support the achievement of Asia literacy for every young Australian. Asialink Impact Report 2013 05 ASIALINK HIGHLIGHTS Major highlights in 2012 for the organisation • Launching Developing an Asia Capable Workforce: partnerships with funding from The Myer A National Strategy with Asialink Taskforce chair and Foundation, AusAID, Australia Indonesia Institute, ANZ Bank CEO Mr Mike Smith OBE, and Australia in Australia Thailand Institute, Australia China the Asian Century White Paper task force head Dr Ken Council, Australia Korea Foundation and Ministries Henry AC. of Education in Indonesia, China, Thailand and Republic of Korea. • Establishing the Australia Myanmar Business Development Taskforce, following a successful • Holding the Asia Education Foundation National Conversations in Yangon, Myanmar in February Forum with 166 leading educators from across 2012, and business visit in May 2012. Australia and a further 129 participating via livestream, directing the national discussion on Asia • Featuring in the Federal Government’s Australia in literacy. the Asian Century White Paper, which highlighted Asialink’s pioneering work over the past 20 years • Sending 334 school educators on 17 study through its arts residency program, Asia capable programs to 7 Asian countries, bringing the total workforce strategy, and the Asia Education number to approximately 3,300 educators since Foundation’s BRIDGE program. 1993. • Publishing the fifth2012 PwC Melbourne Institute • Delivering over 30 training courses, lectures and Asialink