ACYD Alumni, Tom Williams, Selected as a Member of 'New Colombo Plan' Steering Group

Tom Williams, a 2011 ACYD Delegate, ACYA National President (Australia), has been selected as a member of the Liberal Party's 'New Colombo Plan' steering group. The aim of the New Colombo Plan is to 'send so many Australians to study at Asian universities and become interns working in Asia, that it will become a rite of passage for future generations.' For more information on the New Colombo Plan and the other steering group members, please see this article (please note: it requires a subscription)

ACYD Alumni interviewed in Australian Education International documentary

Henry Makeham, founder of the ACYD, and Fiona Lawrie, a 2012 ACYD delegate, were interviewed in Australian Education International's documentary titled Australia-China: Four decades of collaboration and research.

ACYD Alumni, where are they now?...Huw Pohlner

Soon after attending the first ACYD in 2010, Huw Pohlner (second from right) promptly quit his Canberra job and went back to China, where he worked for start-up research consultancy China Policy. Huw was only familiar with China Policy and able to get work there after hearing his future boss speak at the ACYD! After moving to Melbourne in January 2012, Huw took up his current role as Manager of Strategy at Asialink (University of Melbourne) ­ Australia¹s leading centre for the promotion of public engagement with Asia. He works in research and policy, and was project manager and lead author on a national strategy to develop an Asia capable workforce. The recommendations of this strategy were adopted by the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper.

Huw has been studying part-time since 2011 and is graduating from a Master of Law, Governance and Development at the ANU. Not a moment too soon, as Huw is about to leave Australia to do even more study. He is the recipient of a General Sir John Monash Scholarship and will commence studies toward a DPhil in Geography and the Environment at Oxford University from October 2013. His research will focus on the local politics and social/environmental impacts of water governance in China.

NB: Applications for the 2013 Australia-China Youth Dialogue (ACYD) in Canberra and Perth (24 to 29 September 2013) are now open! For more information please visit our applications and FAQ pages.

Australia-China Youth Dialogue Alumni Association

中文/Chinese

The Australia-China Youth Dialogue Alumni Association was formed in 2012 to ensure that all participants who have attended the ACYD over the years will continue to benefit. It is designed to ensure that all participants can continue to meet together to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the Australia China relationship and further mutual understanding amongst the two nations.

Participating in the Alumni Association offers all alumni the opportunities to positivity impact their community through implementing concepts explored during the ACYD. Additionally, the association provides a sustainable forum for alumni to network with each other, stay in contact with the ACYD organisers and work together to advance shared goals.

A formal alumni event will be organized in Melbourne, Sydney, Beijing and Shanghai annually and the Alumni Gala event will take place during ACYD in the county where the ACYD is held that year. Events are exclusively open to alumni from all years.

For more information on Australian-based ACYD Alumni events, please contact Fiona Lawrie, the ACYD Alumni National Coordinator (Australia), at fiona.lawrie@acyd.org.au.

For Chinese-based events, please contact Ann Wang, the ACYD Alumni National Coordinator (China), at ann.wang@acyd.org.au

ACYD Alumni, where are they now?...周康/Zhou Kang

中文/Chinese

Zhou Kang was one of the inaugural 2010 ACYD Chinese delegates. Over the dialogue’s five days, Zhou Kang got to know leaders of different industries, experts and like-minded youth. After the dialogue finished, Zhou Kang chose to return to university, studying for an MBA at Peking University. At the same time, he was vigorously organising and participating in a set of Australian-Chinese cultural exchange activities, including the Beijing Forecast, Australia-China Youth Association (ACYA), and Beijing Lifelight Blind Centre volunteer project, and so on. In 2012, Zhou Kang became a part of the ACYD Organising Committee, and was a part of organising the 2012 ACYD. In 2013, Zhou Kang graduated from Peking University’s National School of Development without a hitch, obtaining an MBA. Zhou Kang then selected to throw himself into the internet and information technology venture sphere, devoting himself to creating a suitable ecosphere for Chinese-based entrepreneurs, and further creating a foundation for exchanges between domestic and foreign entrepreneurs. Besides writing for technology blogs, he also feels strongly about organising internet industry events. Zhou Kang is currently working for Amazon China, and is responsible for business development.

For any media enquiries, please contact Fiona Lawrie at fiona.lawrie@acyd.org.au.

Youth Leaders Receive Representation at Highest Levels of Australia-China Diplomatic Relationship

In recognition of the critical role that youth diplomacy has within the Australia-China bilateral relationship, the Australia-China Youth Dialogue has made history by being the first youth organisation to be offered a seat on the table of the highest-level track 1.5 dialogue with the People’s Republic of China – the Australia-China Forum. Following on from the success of the third annual Australia-China Youth Dialogue, convened in Beijing and Chengdu from 19-24 October 2012, ACYD Founder Henry Makeham was subsequently invited to join the Australia-China Forum in Beijing as the Australia-China Youth Dialogue delegate. Henry was invited to speak on intensifying personnel and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia.

The ACF considers the entirety of the Australia-China relationship. Initiated in 2010 by former Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith during the visit to Australia by Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, the objectives of the ACF are to enhance mutual understanding and trust between Australia and China, and to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations.

The second annual ACF was held in Beijing from November 14-15. The Australian Delegation was led by Professor the Hon Gareth Evans QC (Chancellor of the ANU and former Minister of Foreign Affairs), Frances Adamson (Australian Ambassador to China), Trevor Rowe (Executive Chairman, Rothschild Australia), Catherine Tanna (Chairman, BG Group Australia), David Olsson (Senior Partner, King & Wood Mallesons), the Hon. Andrew Leigh MP (Federal Member for Fraser), Michael Gallagher (Executive Director of the G8 Universities Group) and Rowan Callick (Asia Pacific Editor, The Australian).

The Chinese delegation was led by Li Zhaoxing (Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, former Minister of Foreign Affairs) and some of the delegates included Zhou Wenzhong, (Secretary-General of the Boao Asia Forum), Tang Maoheng (a senior manager at the Bank of China), Fang Quichen (North America and Oceania head of the Commerce Ministry), Zhou Dadi, (the National Development and Reform Commission’s leading energy expert) and Wang Hui (China Daily’s international opinion editor).

Through its annual event with fifteen future leaders from both countries, the ACYD aims to break down misconceptions while enhancing mutual respect, trust and understanding between future stakeholders in Australia-China affairs. Given the close alignment of the objectives of both the ACF and the ACYD, it is hoped that in due course there will be some overlap between the activities of the ACF and the ACYD going forward.

Australia China Forum Program (PDF)