Reimagining Australia's international relations.
A platform for collaboration between the development, diplomacy and defence communities.
2021-2026
As flagged in our previous newsletter, it is with a mix of pride and sadness that AP4D will conclude at the end of this week. Our publications will remain accessible on the AP4D website, as will our webinar recordings on YouTube and historical posts on social media.
AP4D was established in 2021 as a platform for collaboration between Australia's international policy communities, and it has been an absolute privilege to cultivate and foster this network in the years since. Together we've achieved AP4D's mission of driving the narrative of 'all tools of statecraft' and 'whole-of-nation' into the policy conversation. We're confident that connections made through AP4D will endure.
This wouldn't have been possible without the support of our founding and funding partners:
- Australian Civil-Military Centre
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian Council for International Development
- International Development Contractors Community
- Institute for Regional Security
- Australian National University
- University of Melbourne
On behalf of the team, thankyou to everyone who has been part of the AP4D journey.
Our people
Sincere thanks to all members of the AP4D Advisory Group, past and present, for the generosity with which they shared their time and wisdom. AP4D's credibility and name recognition is due in no small part to the willingness of this group of leading foreign affairs thinkers to lend their support to a fledgling initiative.
In particular, AP4D would not have been possible without the vision of Founding Co-Convenors Bridi Rice and Richard Moore, and early backing of inaugural Co-Chairs Michael Wesley and Marc Purcell. It is a profound privilege that AP4D will remain part of the legacies of the late Allan Gyngell and Brendan Sargeant - both of whom are central characters in the AP4D story.
While AP4D as an initiative is winding up, the team will continue to be active in the international policy space.
- Melissa Conley Tyler will return to her honorary role at the University of Melbourne, where you can reach her at m.conleytyler@unimelb.edu.au regarding any projects or publications.
- Tom Barber is exploring opportunities, particularly in the field of existential risk.
- Heather Wrathall has commenced a new senior role in the development sector.
- Grant Wyeth is undertaking some consultancy work and continues to publish his international affairs blog.
Our program
On Thursday 19 February AP4D launched its final options paper: What does it look like for Australia to see Education as a Tool of Statecraft. The culmination of eight months of consultations with more than 100 education experts and practitioners, the paper outlines how education underpins Australia's national power and contributes to development impact, diplomatic links, trade relations and security.
Click below to watch a recording of the webinar, which features a policymaker's response from Assistant Minister for International Education the Hon Julian Hill.
In the news
AP4D has been featured in:
- ABC News 24
- Times of India
- Devex
- Australian Foreign Affairs
- The Conversation
- The Diplomat
- The Mandarin
- The Interpreter (20 January, 5 February & 23 February)
- Inside Story (28 November & 21 January)
- Pursuit
AP4D will feature this week at:
