Head of Lowy Institute in NZ on ‘Asia Aware’ mission

Head of Lowy Institute in NZ on ‘Asia Aware’ mission

The head of leading Australian international relations think tank, The Lowy Institute, will be visiting New Zealand as a guest of the Asia New Zealand Foundation to be a speaker at the Foundation’s Educating for Asia Summit in Wellington on April 6.

The institute’s director Dr Michael Wesley will also be in Wellington for discussions with New Zealand policy makers, business leaders and academics.

As well as the Educating for Asia Summit, Dr Wesley will also address the Principals Federation Conference on April 8. He will speak to both gatherings of New Zealand educators on the importance of preparing young New Zealanders for an Asian century.

As one of Australia’s leading thinkers on engagement with Asia, he will also address the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, organised by MFAT, on April 8 and a public symposium called Australia, New Zealand and China’s Rise, organised by Victoria University’s Centre for Strategic Studies on April 7.

Dr Wesley has been executive director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy since 2009. Previously he was Professor of International Relations and Director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University. He is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and an Adjunct Professor at Griffith University and The University of Sydney.

He has also published a number of books: Energy Security in Asia (Routledge, 2007); The Howard Paradox: Australian Diplomacy in Asia 1996-2006 (ABC Books, 2007); and (with Allan Gyngell) Making Australian Foreign Policy, (Cambridge University Press, 2007).

The Lowy Institute is an independent international policy think tank. Its objective is to generate new ideas and dialogue on international developments and Australia’s role in the world. The Institute is an important partner for the Asia New Zealand Foundation in its Track II policy research and education work.

The Educating for Asia Summit on April 6 will be attended by secondary and primary school teachers to discuss ways of raising Asia awareness in the New Zealand school system.

More information about the Educating for Asia Summit can be found here: http://www.asianz.org.nz/our-work/educating-asia/professional-development/asia-education-summit-2011

A video of Dr Michael Wesley speaking at the Lowy Institute can be found here: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/Publication.asp?pid=1506

More information about the Lowy Institute for International Policy can be found here: http://www.lowyinstitute.org/

ENDS

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