Reimagining Australia's international relations.
A platform for collaboration between the development, diplomacy and defence communities.
Year in review
2024 has been a busy year for AP4D with papers published and events held across three programs. Highlights include:
- Launching AP4D's whole-of-nation paper with Minister Wong and Shadow Minister Birmingham and presenting to the the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade at Parliament House.
- Delivering the inaugural Malaysia-Australia Track 1.5 Maritime Cooperation Dialogue and a Blue Security academic workshop in Kuala Lumpur.
- Seeing pathways from an AP4D paper on supporting Pacific youth, civil society and media reflected in Australia's new Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy, and having the paper mentioned in Parliament by Shadow Minister McCormack.
- Hosting a webinar with a panel of esteemed women sharing their reflections and insights from careers in development, diplomacy and defence.
- Presenting AP4D's work to the Jakarta Geopolitical Forum on a panel featuring the Secretary-General of ASEAN.
This year also saw the launch of the first paper in a new Studies in Statecraft series that provides a platform for those working in related areas to publish through AP4D. If your work aligns with our mission of encouraging better statecraft to maximise Australia’s influence in a difficult, dangerous and complex world, please get in touch at secretariat@asiapacific4d.com.
Continuing to engage with policy debates, AP4D made submissions to the Inquiry into Australia’s response to the priorities of Pacific Island countries, the Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act 2021, the Review into the Foreign Relations (Foreign Arrangements) Act and the Independent Review of Commonwealth Funding for Strategic Policy Work.
This was complemented by a continuing contribution to public debate, including in the Guardian, Australian Financial Review, ABC, SBS, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and BBC World Service.
As the year draws to a close our sincere thanks go out to our supportive funding partners, our esteemed Advisory Group, our generous working group contributors, and everyone who has given the benefit of their guidance and advice in 2024. We wish you all a safe and relaxing break and look forward to reconnecting in the new year.
Our people
The AP4D Advisory Group is co-chaired by Michael Wesley and ACFID Interim CEO Matthew Maury.
Recent commentary by Advisory Group members include:
Jenifer Parker on the case for an Australian Coastguard to meet modern maritime threats, Australia-China defence ties and Royal Australian Navy capabilities.
Bridi Rice on Australia's statecraft budget and development intelligence.
Joanne Wallis on the Australia-New Zealand alliance and Australia's new security treaty with Nauru.
Michael Wesley on an emerging trend of charismatic politicians.
Fitriani on artificial intelligence and the future of conflict.
Susannah Patton on things to watch for in Southeast Asia in 2025.
Julie Ballangarry on addressing sexual harassment in Indo-Pacific universities.
Our program
From 20-21 November AP4D travelled to Kuala Lumpur to deliver the inaugural Malaysia-Australia Track 1.5 Maritime Cooperation Dialogue and a Blue Security academic workshop. AP4D is grateful to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Australian High Commission in Malaysia for their support, and to all dialogue and workshop participants for sharing their insights across two fascinating days.
On Monday 2 December AP4D hosted a webinar to launch a new paper, Green Energy Statecraft for Comprehensive National Security. Published in partnership with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Reimagining the Economy project, the paper outlines a new strategic approach to energy transition governance that integrates economic, social, environmental and geostrategic payoffs. A panel of the paper's authors spoke about how a Green Energy Statecraft approach can help policymakers better develop ambitious, strategic and effective green energy policy.
On 11 December AP4D hosted a webinar to launch 'Australia in World Affairs 2016-2020: A Return to Great-Power Rivalry', the latest volume in the Australian Institute of International Affairs' definitive account of Australian foreign policy. Discussion focused on the key foreign policy developments during the period and contemporary lessons they might offer for Australia's next government.
In the news
AP4D has been featured in:
AP4D staff have spoken at:
- Australasian AID Conference
- Australia-South Korea Dialogue on Security Cooperation
- Malaysia-Australia Track 1.5 Maritime Cooperation Dialogue
