Together, we are shaping the future of this important relationship by fostering understanding, strengthening people-to-people links, and promoting cultural and societal awareness. To all our partners supporting the 14th ACYD in 2024, thank you for your commitment to our shared vision.
The 14th Australia-China Youth Dialogue (ACYD) will be held in Adelaide this year from Friday 22nd November to Monday 25th November 2024, bringing together 28 delegates from both countries. The four-day conference will explore the overarching theme of Planning for The Future By Learning From The Past, with each day focusing on a particular topic including: Geopolitics, Trade and Investment, Education and Tourism, Energy and Sustainability. This year's dialogue will include panel discussions and interactive workshops, to be led by expert speakers from Australian government and universities, Australia-based Chinese companies, to bring discussions, insights and a more sophisticated understanding of the bilateral trade and investment relationship.
On March 27, 2024, Qin Qin (2013 ACYD Alumni) published her book named Model Minority Gone Rogue – the story of Qin Qin. The book unpacks her incredible journey as a model Asian daughter growing up in Australia and how she decided to take the path less walked by which will no doubt inspire many. Congratulations Qin Qin!
James Tang, Executive Director of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue, was invited by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations (NFACR) and Foreign Minister Penny Wong to attend the 8th Australia-China High-Level Dialogue as a delegate. He participated in discussions alongside senior officials such as Former Trade Minister Dr. Craig Emerson and Wang Chao, Honorary President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs.
The Australia-China Youth Dialogue 2013 Report is now officially released, proudly presented to you by the ACYD team. This year's dialogue was held in Canberra and Melbourne for one week during late September. Now we welcome the latest 30 delegates to join the ranks of another 90 outstanding ACYD alumni who have, or are moving into, positions of influence and leadership across the spectrum of the Australia-China dynamic.
Melbourne based ACYD Alumni are invited to the Mahjong Game at the Henley Club at Melbourne on Sunday, 24th November, 12 noon. More details to follow. Save the date
Winner of Young Australia China Alumni of the Year Award
Australian National University Alumnus Beijing Based
Based in Beijing, Timothy Coghlan leads the luxury retail team for Savills Property Services China and advises the world’s most iconic fashion and luxury brands on their China entry, expansion and retail strategies. His clients include, Louis Vuitton Group (LVMH Group), Gucci Group (Kering), Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Tiffany & Co., etc.
In 2011, Timothy created Maosuit.com and wrote over 100 articles and opinion pieces on the business of fashion in China for the site. Time permitting, he still writes for Maosuit.com and with his expertise he often speaks at luxury and fashion industry events including seminars hosted by Tsinghua University, Goldman Sachs and the Melbourne Fashion festival.
As an Australian Fashion Industry Ambassador to China, Timothy struts his own brand of ‘catwalk diplomacy’ and he set up the Australia-China Fashion Alliance (ACFA) project to provide strategic guidance to the development of Australian fashion and related services in China.
In 2012, ACFA received funding through DFAT’s Australia-China Council and in 2013, Timothy led the first-ever official Chinese fashion industry delegation to visit Australia. In October 2013, Timothy will bring the first official Australian Fashion Delegation to Beijing to attend China Fashion Week and formalise the Australia-China Fashion Alliance by signing an MOU committing the two countries to foster mutual cooperation, open commercial dialogues and facilitate regular fashion industry exchange for government, universities, wool producers, fashion brands and fashion designers etc.
Timothy graduated from the Australian National University with degrees in both Economics and East Asian Studies (Mandarin). Since graduation, he has spent his entire career in Asia with many years in both China and Japan.
In addition his ‘regular’ work activities Timothy serves as an Australian International Alumni Councilor for China, Committee Member of the Australia-China Young Professionals Initiative (Beijing Chapter) and is a delegate and the Creative Industries Session organiser for the 2013 Australia-China Youth Dialogue.
Retrieved from: http://www.austchinaalumni.org/awards/nominees2013.php#categ3
A family holiday at the age of 12 hooked Veronica Walker on all things China. Now almost two decades later, the Asian studies and arts graduate is still peering interestedly into the backyard of the country with the Great Wall.
She’s just returned from the 2013 Australia China Youth Dialogue – an annual conference that promotes engagement between young adults from China and Australia who are interested in strengthening the two countries’ relationship.
As one of two alumni prize recipients selected to attend the conference on behalf of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Veronica had the opportunity to engage with other young professionals on the big issues affecting the Australia-China relationship.
“The Australia China Youth Dialogue really highlighted the fact that there is a strong group of Australian and Chinese individuals with immense goodwill and passion seeking to build greater understanding and deeper relationships between these two countries,” she says.
“The Dialogue covered a range of key issues in the bilateral relationship, from climate change to business engagement. But central to all of these discussions remains the importance of building strong people-to-people links and understanding.”
Veronica’s used to looking at the big picture. It’s something she had to do as part of her previous role as an advisor to the Australia in the Asian Century Implementation Taskforce.
“The Taskforce was a cross-agency team established to support implementation of the former Government's Australia in the Asian Century White Paper,” says Veronica.
“The highlight of this role was having the opportunity to combine my professional role with my interest in China and Australian engagement with Asia. I also enjoyed the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with a dynamic team of people from a range of different agencies.”
But for Veronica, it isn’t just policies that will ensure Australia will succeed in the Asian century. It comes down to people, culture and experience. Such a perspective is unsurprising considering Veronica’s experiences in childhood and as a student.
“My father is an academic and growing up we often had international postgraduate students living with our family. Qian, from Yangzhou, stayed with our family for the longest, around 18 months.
“And as an Asian studies student who majored in Mandarin at ANU, I had the opportunity to complete the Year in Asia Program in 2004 – nearly 10 years ago now!
“I studied at the Beijing Language and Culture University and this gave me my first in-depth experience of China and allowed me to put in to practise some of the skills I'd learnt while studying in Canberra.”
For the immediate future Veronica’s gaze has turned to Australia’s own backyard. She has just started a new job with the Australian Government looking at Indigenous economic development.
But with some 20 years of hands-on experience with one of the world’s most dynamic countries, we bet it won’t be long before she is back in China, helping to break down walls.
Veronica Walker completed a combined Bachelor of Asian Studies/ Bachelor of Arts at ANU in 2006.
Featured image by Songquan Deng from flickr.
Source: Australian National University Website, http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/news-events/all-stories/breaking-down-walls#.UluxNGTN9kh
ACYD Founder Henry Makeham has had an article published in the Chinese Journal of International Politics entitled 'Chinese Perspectives on the Feasibility of an Asia Pacific Community'. The full text of the article can be found on Oxford Journals here. The PDF version can be found here.
The Chinese Journal of International Politics is a rising platform for peer-reviewed academic papers and articles related to China or have implication for Chinese foreign policy. It focus on the advancement of systematic and rigorous study of international relations and publishes modern methodology, research products of historical studies and policy-oriented research.
The full citation for this article is: Chinese Perspectives on the Feasibility of an Asia Pacific Community, Henry F. Makeham, The Chinese Journal of International Politics 2013; doi: 10.1093/cjip/pot012
Melbourne based ACYD Alumni are invited to join alumni from 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 for dinner in Melbourne on Saturday the 12th of October at 6pm. More details to follow. Save the Date
Moreover, Beijing based ACYD Alumni from all years are invited to attend a BBQ to welcome home the 2013 ACYD Delegates to Beijing. Details to follow.
This is a special video address for the 2013 Australia-China Youth Dialogue by HE Frances AdamsonAustralian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China
Huawei stated upon coming on board as an Associate Partner for this year's dialogue that: "Huawei is delighted to sponsor the Australia China Youth Dialogue. The ACYD participants hold the future of the Australia-China relationship in their hands and Huawei support this important program. Founded in 1987, Huawei is an entirely employee-owned private company and a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider with a vision to enrich life through communication. Through the company’s 150,000 employees and dedication to customer-centric innovation and strong partnerships, Huawei has established telecommunications solutions and services, which have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one-third of the world’s population." For more information about Huawei, please click here.
