South Asia Conference 2023 - Trade and Security | Australian Institute of International Affairs Victoria on Glue Up

Event Details

In partnership with Global Victoria, the Australia India Institute, Asialink, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Victoria State Office, and the Australia India Chamber of Commerce, AIIA Victoria welcomes both new and returning 2021 and 2022 South Asia Series attendees to the inaugural South Asia Conference 2023, followed by a reception.

The theme this year is Trade and Security.

The Conference will focus on India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and consider trade and security concerns for each of these countries, within the context of the Indo-Pacific region. The relationship between these countries and Australia will be examined within the trade and security concerns of the region, including the war in Ukraine, the rise of China, and the heightened tensions in the region.

As the economic and trade relationship between Australia and China continues to be problematic, what are the potential opportunities for increased trade and investment between Australia and these South Asian markets? What are the security concerns for these countries in a situation where China is increasing its profile in the region?

Join AIIA VIC and our partners for an engaging afternoon of workshops with keynote speaker The Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs to discuss key trade and security issues facing the three countries.

To download the pdf flyer please click here.

Agenda

July 13, 2023

South Asia Conference

13:30 - 14:00

Registration and Check-In

14:00 - 14:05

Welcome Remarks

Australian Institute of International Affairs Victoria

14:05 - 14:20

Keynote Address

The Hon Tim Watts MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Hon. Tim Watts MP

14:20 - 14:30

Conference Introduction

Martine Letts FAIIA HonLLD

14:30 - 14:40

Break

14:40 - 15:40

India Panel

The Hon. Lisa Singh

Tully Smith

Norm Duce

Michelle Wade

15:40 - 15:55

India Panel - Q&A

The Hon. Lisa Singh

Tully Smith

Norm Duce

Michelle Wade

15:55 - 16:15

Afternoon Tea

16:15 - 17:15

Sri Lanka Panel

Prakash Mirchandani

Dr. Chulanee Attanayake

Murtaza Jafferjee

17:15 - 17:30

Sri Lanka Panel - Q&A

Prakash Mirchandani

Dr. Chulanee Attanayake

Murtaza Jafferjee

17:30 - 17:45

Closing Remarks

Prof. Michael Wesley FAIIA

17:45 - 19:30

Networking Reception

Bangladesh Panel

16:15 - 17:15

Bangladesh Panel

Dr. Mike Moignard

Dr. Lutfun Nahar Lata

Prof. Lailufar Yasmin

Assoc. Prof. Reshad Ahsan

17:15 - 17:30

Bangladesh Panel - Q&A

Dr. Mike Moignard

Dr. Lutfun Nahar Lata

Prof. Lailufar Yasmin

Assoc. Prof. Reshad Ahsan

Speakers

The Hon. Tim Watts MP

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs

Martine Letts FAIIA HonLLD

CEO, Asialink Group

The Hon. Lisa Singh

CEO, Australia India Institute

Tully Smith

Australian India Chamber of Commerce (AICC)

Norm Duce

REA Group

Michelle Wade

Commissioner to South Asia, Global Victoria

Prakash Mirchandani

AIIA VIC Council Member

Dr. Chulanee Attanayake

National University of Singapore and Swinburne University

Murtaza Jafferjee

CEO JB Securities and Chairman, Advocata Institute (Sri Lanka)

Dr. Mike Moignard

AIIA VIC Council Member

Prof. Lailufar Yasmin

University of Dhaka

Assoc. Prof. Reshad Ahsan

University of Melbourne

Prof. Michael Wesley FAIIA

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Culture & Engagement International at University of Melbourne

Tim Watts is the Federal Member for Gellibrand and has served as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Albanese Government since 2022. Tim was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013 and for a decade has served one of the most diverse electorates in Australia. Before entering Parliament, Tim worked in the technology sector, as a Senior Manager at Telstra and a Solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons). Tim worked on critical tech issues including the roll out of the National Broadband Network, the auction and distribution of sections of the radio communications spectrum and network pricing regulation. He also worked as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Minister for Communications and a Senior Adviser to the Victorian Premier. Tim is the author of two books, “The Golden Country: Australia's Changing Identity” and “Two Futures: Australia at a Critical Moment” (along with co-author and fellow MP, Clare O'Neil). Tim holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Bond University, a Master of Public Policy from Monash University and a Master of Science (Politics and Communications) from the London School of Economics.

The Hon. Lisa Singh is a trailblazing former Australian Senator, recognized as the first woman of South Asian heritage to hold a seat in the Australian Parliament. She also served as a Tasmanian state member of parliament and a Minister in the Tasmanian Government. Currently, Lisa is the CEO of the Australia India Institute, driving research and policy initiatives to foster strong Australia-India relations and co-chair of the prestigious track 1.5 Australia India Leadership Dialogue. She also holds key roles as an advisory board member of the University of Melbourne's Asialink and UNSW’s Australian Human Rights Institute and was the Deputy Chair of the Australian Government's Australia-India Council. Lisa's exceptional contributions in building the Australia-India relationship have been honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from the President of India in 2014. With her extensive experience, she has actively strengthened Australia's ties with the Indo-Pacific region, including representing the nation at the United Nations General Assembly in 2016.

Tully Smith joins AICC from the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, where he served as General Manager. AmCham is currently the nation's largest international chamber and Australia’s largest international business organization. Tully established his career working in strategic communication, corporate affairs and strategy, holding senior positions across government and the private sector. Prior to joining the American Chamber Tully worked for the top ten ASX-listed Telstra Corporation, the country's biggest brand both domestically and globally. As a strategist, Tully has significant experience leading organizations at both an executive and board level. He has also supported several start-up businesses, with a speciality in new and emerging technology. Tully has twice been included in the Ipsos Global Reputation Council, considered the definitive list of the world's most influential communicators. With only around 100 people included globally each year, Tully is one of only a small number of Australians to have made the list. Passionate about his community, Tully contributes through several board-level positions in the not-for-profit sector, across the Arts, Disability Services, Education, Welfare, Community and Regional Development. Tully’s service has been recognised with among others a Prime Minister of Australia’s Award for Service to the Community.

Michelle Wade is a highly experienced international trade official. She has been based in Bengaluru since late 2017 and manages Victorian government’s trade, education and investment activities in South Asia. During the pandemic, she also managed Victorian’s $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund, supporting over 30,000 international students. Michelle has worked for all three levels of Australian government in internationally facing roles. She held senior Australian diplomatic positions in Italy, Malaysia and Spain. She worked for Queensland government managing their international network and business and skills migration program and devised the Brisbane City Council’s strategy for G20 engagement. Michelle’s early career was in classical music management with Sydney Symphony and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. She has postgraduate qualifications in law and business communications and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Government. Michelle is deeply proud of her lifelong links to Australia’s Indian diaspora having grown up in the small town of Woolgoolga, home to Australia's first Sikh community.

Dr Chulanee Attanayake, Swinburne University of Technology and National University of Singapore, is a Researcher with expertise in China and South Asia, Politics, Geopolitics and Security in the Indo-Pacific, and Sri Lanka’s Foreign Relations. Her current research focuses on maritime security and maritime sovereignty of small states. She was a Research Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, and still holds affiliation as a Non-Resident Fellow at the institute. Her expertise and insights have been disseminated through her publications, including the comprehensive analysis "China in Sri Lanka" (2013) and the edited volume "Maritime Sri Lanka: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives" (2021). She also frequently appears as an expert commentator on international news channels such as CNN, BBC, Channel News Asia, and Bloomberg. She is currently pursuing a PhD by Publication at Swinburne University of Technology on underwater security and its implications for small states.

Dr. Lailufar Yasmin is Professor and Chairperson at the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has undertaken her studies at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Georgia State University, Atlanta, USA, and Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. She has been a recipient of the US Fulbright, the British Chevening, and the Australian International Post-Graduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). Her recent fellowships include FIPSS—Fellowships in Indo-Pacific Security Studies— at Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Hawaii, USA and Fellowship on Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme, offered by Beyond Borders Scotland. Her latest publications are on the Rohingya issue, disciplinary history of International Relations in South Asia and on the Indo-Pacific. Her areas of research include Bangladesh’s politics, economy and foreign policy, South Asian Affairs, China’s Rise, maritime security and the Indo-Pacific Region, and women’s participation in the UN Peacekeeping, among others.

Dr. Michael Wesley FAIIA is an expert in international affairs with extensive experience in higher education, government, and the private sector. He specialises in international strategy, relations, and the politics of state-building interventions. Previously, he served as the Professor of International Affairs and Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University (ANU), as well as the Director of the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at ANU. He has also held positions such as the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University, and Assistant Director-General for Transnational Issues at the Office of National Assessments. Dr. Wesley has a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews.

Documents

2023 06 13 South Asia Conference Flyer vl.pdf

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South Asia Conference 2023 - Trade and Security

Event Details