Reimagining Australia's international relations.
A platform for collaboration between the development, diplomacy and defence communities.
AP4D Webinar
2025 has already been a brutal year for the development sector. The dismantling of USAID has dominated headlines, but it is symptomatic of a broader trend among Western donors. What comes next, and what should Australia’s response be?
Join us on Thursday 27 March, 1:00-2:00pm (Canberra time) to hear from an expert panel on the role of development, why it’s in Australia’s interest, and how the next government can seize on development opportunities to shape a world that Australians want to live in.
Speakers include:
- Dr Jenny Gordon, Nonresident Fellow at the Lowy Institute and Honorary Professor at the Australian National University
- Nathan Hansford, CEO of the International Development Contractors Community
- Mira Sulistiyanto, Senior Analyst at the Development Intelligence Lab
Our people
The AP4D Advisory Group is co-chaired by Michael Wesley and ACFID Interim CEO Matthew Maury.
Recent commentary by Advisory Group members includes:
Jennifer Parker on AUKUS, naval force structure, ASIO's annual threat assessment, Chinese warships in the region, Australia as a maritime power and the US pause on military aid to Ukraine.
Bridi Rice on the future of development and Southeast Asian views on USAID disruptions.
Hayley Channer on US-China technology competition and the US-Ukraine minerals deal.
Richard Maude on Trump's new world order and an incoming brief for Australia's next government.
Fitriani on supporting Pacific cyber resilience and BRICS and the global order.
Joanne Wallis on Cook Islands' comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
Matthew Maury on the consequences of the USAID freeze.
Julie Ballangarry on First Nations gender justice.
Susannah Patton on US-Australia relations under Trump 2.0.
Our program
On 24 February AP4D was delighted to co-host with Griffith University a symposium at Parliament House on Australian Diplomacy Today. Attended by more than 70 leading thinkers on Australian statecraft, the event was an opportunity to look at developments in Australian diplomacy over the past decade and explore future goals, directions and challenges. Thank you to all who attended and shared their thoughts during an insightful day.
On 28 February AP4D launched a new paper: What does it look like for Australia to promote compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) and protection of civilians (POC).
The culmination of three months of consultations with more than 70 humanitarian experts and practitioners, the paper diagnoses the issues at the heart of contemporary IHL and POC challenges, and outlines areas that Australian policymakers can focus on to promote compliance with international humanitarian law and protection of civilians.
Click below to watch a recording of the launch, which includes reflections from Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay.
In the news
AP4D has been featured in:
- ABC News 24
- ABC News online (18 February & 7 March)
- The Saturday Paper
- Triple J
- 2CC Radio
- Devex
- The Inquirer
- The Conversation
- The Mandarin
- The Interpreter
- East Asia Forum
- Asia-Pacific Leadership Network
- Australian Outlook
- The Strategist
- The Diplomat (twice)
- 9DASHLINE
- Australian Feminist Foreign Policy Coalition
- International Politics & Society
- Carbon Pulse
AP4D staff have spoken at:
- Pacific Islands Political Studies Association Conference
- Thailand-Australia Track 1.5 Dialogue on Economic Resilience
- Development Intelligence Lab x Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
