Reimagining Australia's international relations.
A platform for collaboration between the development, diplomacy and defence communities.
A chapter closes
It is with a mix of pride and sadness that we announce AP4D will be winding down in early 2026. It's been a privilege to connect with thousands of you from across the different policy communities over the past four and a half years, platforming your insights and building a constituency for an all tools of statecraft, whole-of-nation approach to Australia's engagement with the world.
It's been satisfying to see core AP4D themes and messages reflected in key policy documents, in speeches by senior policymakers, and across Australian policy debate more broadly. AP4D has played a key role in changing the conversation - the onus is now on all of us to maintain the momentum.
We'll still be around until February, and will provide a final update before then, but in the meantime we hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday period.
Our people
The AP4D Advisory Group is co-chaired by Michael Wesley and Matthew Maury.
Recent commentary by Advisory Group members includes:
Susannah Patton on the ASEAN Summit, Timor-Leste's accession to the bloc, Australia's strategic priorities in the region, the Australia-Indonesia security pact and relative power in Asia.
Joanne Wallis on Australia's relations with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific in international relations academic literature.
Jennifer Parker on Australia's defence preparedness, its military capabilities and the case for a national maritime strategy.
Fitriani on technology competition with China, narrative-shaping in the grey zone and Indonesian President Prabowo's technology agenda.
Hayley Channer on economic security.
Michael Wesley on Trump's 'chaos theory'.
Richard Moore on middle power development motivations.
Richard Maude on Australian foreign policy in 2025.
Our program
In October AP4D hosted a webinar to explore the role of philanthropy in the contemporary international development context. Following opening remarks from Director of the OECD Development Centre, Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, a panel of experts offered perspectives on how philanthropy can play a catalytic role in sustainable development. Click below to watch a recording, and read recent pieces from AP4D on corporate giving and the catalytic role of philanthropy.
Last month AP4D also helped bring a cohort of Southeast Asian journalists and media professionals to Canberra as part of the Blue Security program's maritime media visits project. During a packed week, the cohort met with officials from departments and agencies with maritime security responsibilities, as well engaging with academics, researchers and practitioners through a series of interactive workshops.
In recent weeks AP4D has hosted senior delegations from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese think tank the Grandview Institution, with discussions focusing on Indo-Pacific affairs more broadly, as well as Australia's relations with the Netherlands and China.
In the news
AP4D has been featured in:
- ABC News Radio
- ABC News TV
- SBS Online
- Kompas
- La Nueva Cronica
- The Interpreter
- Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Australian Outlook
AP4D staff have spoken at:
- The European Union Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Conference
- Global Development Leaders Dialogue
- La Trobe University-Inter-American Dialogue roundtable on Comparative Policymaking in a Shifting Global Architecture
- Friedrich Ebert Stiftung roundtable on current challenges in international politics
- Asialink Emerging Leaders Program
