Australia India Institute

NEW CHAIR ANNOUNCED

The Institute is pleased to announce Mr. Patrick Suckling as the new Chair of the Advisory Board. With over two decades of experience in Australian-Indian relations and a track record as a diplomat and entrepreneur, Patrick is perfectly poised to lead the Institute into its next chapter.

The Institute also welcomes new Advisory Board members Shinjini Kumar, Srimathi Shivashankar, Vicki Thomson, Rufus Pinto and Rajiv Dube who will add new insights and value in guiding the Institute’s Strategy 2022-26.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

This special holiday marks the birth of Lord Ganesha also known as the god of knowledge, wealth, and new beginnings. Ganesh Chaturthi involves the installation of Lord Ganesha idols across homes and public places, and are worshipped for a period of 10 days.

Culminating in a grand procession called the "Visarjan" or immersion, the idols are immersed in water bodies such as rivers, lakes, or the sea, symbolising the return of Lord Ganesha to his celestial abode.

May this festive occasion bring happiness and joy for everyone celebrating.

🎧 Our recording is Live 🎧

You can now listen to our panel discussion on “Australia, India, and the World”, hosted in partnership with .

CEO was joined by stalwarts of foreign policy and the Australia-India relationship Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, Mr Peter Varghese AO, and Dr Pradeep Taneja, exploring the burgeoning partnership between the two nations amidst the evolving strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific.

They delved into how both nations navigate the contested Indo-Pacific region, balancing Beijing-Washington tensions while fostering a trusted partnership grounded in shared democratic values. They also discussed the Pacific and regional implications, strategic collaborations, and the shifting political landscapes in India and Bangladesh.

Link in bio.

The Institute is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Centre for Public Policy Research to deliver the ‘Australia-India Cooperation on Climate Security in the Indian Ocean: The impact for islands and coastal communities’ roundtable at the Australian Consulate General in Chennai on Friday 13 September.

The climate and environmental security for Indian Ocean Island states and coastal communities is increasingly threatened by climate change policy, geopolitical tensions and shifting global power dynamics.

The impact of climate change on islands and coastal communities, including rising sea levels, an increase in natural disasters and resource scarcity, further compound the challenges facing the Indian Ocean region. As leading actors in the Indo-Pacific, Australia and India have shared interests in creating regional stability, addressing the impacts of climate change and ensuring the region remains peaceful and prosperous for all.

We look forward to the valuable contributions of our delegates.

@ Defence Australia Richard Marles MP

🌏 The Australia India Institute looks forward to hosting Dr. Preeti Mudliar from IIIT-Bangalore, the first recipient of the Women in Tech Fellowship. This new initiative, in partnership with the Australian Consulate-General Bengaluru, aims to connect leading women tech researchers in Bengaluru with their counterparts in Australia to advance policy research. Read more: https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/women-in-tech/

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, India In Australia (High Commission Of India, Canberra)Australian High Commission, India and Bhutan

The Institute is pleased to have delivered 'Australia, India and the World' in partnership with the Faculty of Arts at University of Melbourne.

The panel, including Former Indian Ambassador, His Excellency Anil Wadhwa, Distinguished Fellow of the Institute and Chancellor of The University of Queensland, Mr Peter Varghese AO and Deputy Associate Dean International (India) at the University of Melbourne, Dr Pradeep Taneja was moderated by the Institute's CEO Lisa Singh.

Discussions centered on the contemporary policy settings and opportunities that India's economic growth, security and geopolitical positioning presents for Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.

Stay tuned for the recording of this panel event here: https://www.chatsoverchai.com.au/

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1 day to go with our nearly sold-out event, Australia, India and the World, in conversation with Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, Mr Peter Varghese AO and Dr Pradeep Taneja. The event, co-hosted with the Faculty of Arts, will be moderated by Australia India Institute .

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australia-india-and-the-world-tickets-982700111487?aff=oddtdtcreator

EVENT UPDATE: We are honoured to share that Mr Peter Varghese AO will join our esteemed panel discussion 'Australia, India and the World' in partnership with University of Melbourne Faculty of Arts on September 4.

Mr Varghese AO is a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute and Chancellor of The University of Queensland. He is also the former Secretary of Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and former High Commissioner to India. Mr Varghese will join former Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa and Deputy Associate Dean International (India) at the University of Melbourne, Dr Pradeep Taneja. The panel will be moderated by AII CEO, The Hon. Lisa Singh.

Seats are limited, register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/australia-india-and-the-world-tickets-982700111487

Thank you to the Australian High Commission in Mauritius for hosting Lisa Singh - Former Senator and Samuel Bashfield as part of their visit to island states in the Indian Ocean. There is so much Australia think tanks can research and collaborate on in this region.

We are launching the Australia India Women Researchers’ Exchange (AIWE) Program – a new fellowship initiative aimed at promoting gender equity in STEM research. 👩‍🔬

The AIWE Program, led by the Institute and supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, offers fellowships of up to $12,000 for women STEM researchers to undertake a research project in either Australia or India.

Why Apply?

🌏 Build bilateral research connections
🌏 Support gender equity in STEM
🌏 Gain valuable cross-cultural experience

Applications open next week. Read more: https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/media-release-australia-india-fellowships-advance-gender-equity-in-stem-research/


officials

As part of our Australia India InnovEd Series, the Institute hosted a roundtable on ‘Building Evidence and Measuring Impact of Online and Hybrid Learning’ in Melbourne.

The roundtable, in partnership with Edugrowthaus and , provided a unique platform to delve into the data and evidence base supporting digital education in Australia and India.

The diverse perspectives shared by representatives from academia, government, and industry greatly contributed to our discussions on best practices for integrating and implementing e-learning.

A very happy Raksha Bandhan to all who celebrate!

Raksha Bandhan is a tradition marked by the tying of wrist bands, celebrating the bond between siblings across India. The occasion represents the bond of safety, where “Raksha” stands for protection and “Bandhan” signifies the tying of Knot.

Wishing everyone a safe, and joy-filled holiday!

This week our CEO Lisa Singh - Former Senator was joined by thought leaders in India to discuss bilateral trade missions, foreign policy, and the role of art and sport in bringing two nations together during the IABCA Global Leaders Forum at the Sydney Opera House.

Lisa moderated the panel discussion "Interwoven Identities: Cultural Synergy and Global Perspectives" where she was joined by an esteemed panel of experts including Ambassador Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Barry O’Farrell, Lisa Havilah, Nick Hockley and Sanjeev Joshipura.

One standout moment of the panel was Ambassador Deepa Gopalan’s reflections on the importance of institutional links and political will between countries like Australia and India.

Thank you to IABCA and its formidable founder Sonia Gandhi from Gandhi Creations for your ongoing leadership in the soft diplomacy space and for continually hosting high-quality events such as today’s Global Leaders Forum.

India Australia Business & Community Alliance Australia India Business Council , Anthony Albanese Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australian Cricket Powerhouse Museum India In Australia (High Commission Of India, Canberra) The University of Melbourne Confederation of Indian Industry Australia India Youth Dialogue

This week we mark the 77 years of 's Independence. We celebrate this occasion with our friends in India, our friends of India across the globe and our Indian diaspora in Australia.

🎙️ NEW PODCAST: The unique cross-border impacts of climate tech start-ups 🎙️

How can a bilateral partnership successfully support start-ups pioneering sustainable change?

The India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator is a purpose-built program that helps Indian and Australian start-ups fast-track their cross-border impact. The start-ups focus on solutions to challenges felt by both countries, including clean energy, waste and the circular economy; and climate-smart agriculture.

In this Chats Over Chai conversation, CEO Singh - Former Senator speaks to Pramit Dash, Program Director at the Atal Innovation Mission and Tamara Ogilvie, Program Director at CSIRO for a fascinating look at the intricacies of business diplomacy and the exciting and innovative start-ups looking to make their mark in Australia and India through the RISE program.

The next round of applications for the RISE Accelerator open soon! For more information, go to https://riseaccelerator.org/

Listen here: https://www.chatsoverchai.com.au

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India The University of Melbourne Tim Watts MP India In Australia (High Commission Of India, Canberra) Department of Industry, Science and Resources CSIRO

New Event 💥

The Australia India Institute, in partnership with University of Melbourne's Faculty of Arts, invite you to 'Australia, India and the World: Geopolitical Challenges and Prospects for Prosperity in the Region'.

A panel discussion with Former Indian Ambassador, His Excellency Anil Wadhwa and Deputy Associate Dean International (India) at the University of Melbourne, Dr Pradeep Taneja on advancing Australia and India’s strategic economic and geopolitical partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Region. The panel discussion will be moderated by the Institute's CEO The Hon. Lisa Singh.

Event details

Date: Wednesday 4 September.
Time: 12pm-1pm. Please arrive at 11:50am for a prompt 12pm start.
Location: Level 1, Sidney Myer Asia Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room (106), Sidney Myer Asia Centre, The University of Melbourne.

Get your tickets here for an insightful conversation on advancing Australia and India's economic and strategic partnerships: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/982700111487?aff=oddtdtcreator

🚨 NEW ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
We are pleased to announce that the Premier of Victoria the Hon will deliver the Australia India Institute's 2024 Annual Oration in New Delhi.

The Institute has a rich and successful tradition of inviting prominent speakers to deliver our Annual Oration. Over the years, thought leaders who have made remarkable contributions to strengthening the Australia-India relationship have delivered an address delving into key issues of relevance to both nations.

We look forward to hosting Victorian Premier Allan in India in September.

The University of Melbourne Lisa Singh - Former Senator Ben Carroll MP Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Tim Watts MP India in Australia (Consulate General of India, Melbourne) Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India Nick Reece Sbs news hindi

🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎙️

Listen to CEO Lisa Singh and our new Director of Security and Geopolitics Darshana Baruah talk about the latest geopolitical developments taking place in the Indo-Pacific, Australia-India, and the Quad as well as her visions for the Institute’s Security and Geopolitics program.

Lisa and Darshana explore the criticisms behind the Quad, discuss perspectives on the alliance system, Australia’s foreign policy priorities, and the missing links in the Indo-Pacific debate. Their conversation delves into the evolving challenges and strategic imperatives that define our oceans today.

Darshana’s extensive knowledge is on full display, as the pair also discuss her upcoming book, a compilation of her ten years of experience exploring the complex world of maritime security.

Tune into this episode to hear more about developments in the Indo-Pacific and how AII’s Security and Geopolitics program plans to contribute to the interlinkages between think tanks and foreign policy debates.

Listen here: https://www.chatsoverchai.com.au/

The Australia India Institute welcomes the Hon. Alex Chernov AC KC as a Distinguished Fellow of the Institute.

The Hon. Alex Chernov is an Australian lawyer, judge, and barrister. He also taught law, co-authored a major legal text, was involved in law reform and chaired a number of tribunals. He became President of the Victorian Bar and later the Law Council of Australia, Vice President of the Australian Bar Association and of LawAsia.

In 1997 Alex Chernov was appointed a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria, and in the following year to its Court of Appeal. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 and a Companion of the Order in 2012. He chaired the Grattan Institute and became a governor of the Ian Potter Foundation.

The Hon. Alex Chernov held a prominent role in founding the Australia India Institute, working passionately towards the Institute’s successful establishment. Alex Chernov’s passion for advancing the Australia-India relationship remains a great inspiration to the Institute.

As someone with extensive knowledge and experience on Australia India relations, we very much welcome Alex to our field of Distinguished Fellows.

Read more about Alex here: https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/teams/the-hon-alex-chernov-ac-kc/
Governor of Victoria Lisa Singh - Former Senator Austrade Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Australia India Chamber of Commerce - AICC The University of Melbourne Monash University Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India India In Australia (High Commission Of India, Canberra)

Two weeks on from the Australia India Renewables Dialogue and the Track 1.5’s impact continues to resonate. Bringing together leaders from across government, industry, and academia, the dialogue fostered collaboration between both countries to unlock new opportunities created by 🇦🇺🇮🇳’s net zero targets in innovation, manufacturing, trade and investment.

See more here: https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/programs/sustainable-economies/australia-india-renewables-dialogue/

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Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Lisa Singh - Former Senator Clean Energy Council Confederation of Indian Industry Investment NSW

Our defence special visitors program for 2024 has concluded!

Our special visitor program bridges people-to-people links and fosters deeper bilateral connections between Indian experts and their Australian counterparts to create a more peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Throughout the program, our delegates engaged with key think tanks, academia and policy professionals across Canberra, Sydney and Perth to facilitate dialogue on multilateral opportunities in the Indo-Pacific. Thank you to Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, High Commission of India, Canberra, Australia, Centre for Australia-India Relations, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, Australian Border Force, Consul General Sydney and Defence Australia for hosting our delegates.

As part of the program, the Institute hosted two roundtables on 'Building Resilient and Secure Economies in the Indo-Pacific: A Roundtable Discussion' and the 'Indian Ocean Maritime Defence Roundtable'. Many thanks to our partners UNSW Institute for Global Development, Centre for Australia-India Relations and ANU National Security College for co-hosting these invaluable roundtables.

Our delegates also attended the 'Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference' in Perth where Director Security and Geopolitics Darshana Mozinder Baruah was a panellist that spoke to insecurity in the Indo-Pacific and opportunities moving forward. The conference hosted by AMDA Foundation Limited highlights the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean with a focus on the Quad's role in the region and future defence capabilities.

A warm thank you to our delegates for their insightful contributions and participation in the program.

As part of our defence special visitors program, the Institute co-hosted a roundtable on 'Indian Ocean Maritime Defence' in Canberra in partnership with ANU National Security College.

Each of our experts presented their unique research findings on an area of Australia-India bilateral cooperation in the Indian Ocean. The roundtable explored how cooperation on maritime security between Australia and India can help provide security and stability in the Indian Ocean and how institutions can play a greater role in advancing maritime security.

Thank you to all delegates for their insightful contributions and to ANU National Security College for partnering on this important roundtable.

To kick off our defence special visitors program, the Institute partnered with the the UNSW Institute for Global Development at the University of New South Wales to deliver “Building Resilient and Secure Economies in the Indo-Pacific A Roundtable Discussion".

The roundtable focused on Australia and India collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region and how both countries can support small island states.

Thank you to all the delegates for their valuable contributions.

Lisa Singh Narendra Modi India In Australia (High Commission Of India, Canberra) The University of Melbourne Cgi Sydney Defence Australia Richard Marles MP Rajnath Singh DFAT Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

🎙️NEW PODCAST🎙️

Following the success of the inaugural Australia India Renewables Dialogue in Sydney, this episode of Chats Over Chai features a key delegate at the dialogue, Mr JP Chalasani, Group CEO of leading Indian wind energy firm, Suzlon.

Lisa Singh and JP Chalasani discuss his rich experience in the renewables sector and how Australia and India can continue to place themselves as renewable energy superpowers in the Indo-Pacific. The pair delve into the importance of policymakers and thought leaders in the renewables space and their thoughts on how the government's approach, ambition and response to the climate crisis has evolved.
Join us for an insightful conversation on the Australia-India clean energy partnership.

Link: https://www.chatsoverchai.com.au

NEW READ 💥

The Institute’s Defence Special Visitors Program kicks off today. We’ll be taking 3 Indian Ocean security experts from India on a 9-day tour, engaging with think tanks, academic and policy professionals in Canberra, Sydney and Perth. Our experts have prepared some discussion papers, evaluating the role of India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dr Aswani RS, School of Liberal Studies, UPES on 'Green Foreign Policy: Enhancing India-Australia Strategic Partnership Through Renewable Energy Cooperation'.

Dr. Abhishek Mishra, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on 'Beyond “immediate neighbourhood”: Western Indian Ocean within Australia’s maritime security calculations'.

Ms Shruti Pandalai, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on 'The Role of India-Australia Cooperation in anchoring a stable Indo-Pacific'.

Mr Soham Agarwal National Maritime Foundation on 'Connectivity Resilience in the Indian Ocean: Partnering for Submarine Cable Repairs'.

Read more here: https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/australia-india-and-the-indian-ocean/

Our inaugural Australia India Renewables Dialogue has begun!

Experts and officials from 🇦🇺 🇮🇳 are discussing ways to explore the diverse opportunities created by both countries net-zero targets.

There is much to build upon, which is why the Institute is excited to convene this historic dialogue.

With one day to go before the Australia India Renewables Dialogue , CEO and research fellow write for the Lowy Interpreter on the potential to jumpstart Australia-India clean energy cooperation.

Australia-India collaboration in renewables remains bedevilled by a lack of understanding of the policies, capabilities and trade and investment opportunities on both sides. Many Indian firms see this as a roadblock to investment into Australia, while Australian companies struggle to navigate the Indian business landscape.

The inaugural in Sydney seeks to strengthen partnership by bringing together leaders in government, business, and academia from both countries to pursue partnerships in innovation, manufacturing, trade and investment.

Swipe to see the delegates for the Australia India Renewables Dialogue 2024 🌱

The Track 1.5 convenes together leaders from government, academia, business and industry to unlock opportunities to help both 🇦🇺🇮🇳 to decarbonise their economies and diversify supply chains.

CEO Lisa Singh was pleased to launch Aarti Betigeri book, "Growing Up Indian in Australia".

The book celebrates our country’s vibrant diversity, and features contributions from Australian-Indian writers who hail from all parts of the diaspora, a wide range of backgrounds, religions and experiences. It’s a colourful and energetic collection of stories that offers reflections on identity, culture, family, food and expectations, delving into the deep truths about the Australian and Indian identity.

A thought-provoking and powerful panel discussion moderated by Lisa and featuring Aarti Betigeri, Tasneem Chopra, Shreya Tekumalla and Preeti Maharaj explored the importance of diaspora voices in our national identity.

These stories that inspire, challenge, and broaden our understanding of the beautiful cultures that shape our world, are more important now than ever.

You can purchase 'Growing Up Indian in Australia' here: https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/growing-indian-australia

Listen to the recording here: https://www.chatsoverchai.com.au