Australia and India have a long history of research collaboration, which is why the Institute is building the Australia India Research Collaboration Framework. Supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, this framework is a strategic initiative designed to support impactful research partnerships between Australia and India. Register for our last two workshops to help us develop a guide to build impactful, long-term partnerships.
Amidst Fiji Prime Minister Rabuka’s visit to India meeting with Prime Minister Modi to deepen ties, it was excellent to have Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji the Hon. Prof Biman Prasad in Australia to give an address at the University of Melbourne on securing the Blue Pacific. There is much Australia and India can co-contribute on to building a resilient Pacific.
The Institute’s recent track 1.5 Australia-India Cables Dialogue 2025 provided a significant platform for experts to discuss why submarine cable networks are increasingly contested and need to be protected, particularly as geopolitical tensions rise globally. This ongoing strategic thought on seabed critical infrastructure led by Dr Samuel Bashfield will continue under our Seabed Program into 2026. Thank you to International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore and the Forrest Research Foundation for partnering on this Dialogue.
Building on the Institute’s recent Trilateral Dialogue with Australia, India and Indonesia, I was pleased to participate in the Jakarta Futures Forum hosted by Indian think tank ORF on a range of geopolitical challenges our region faces and how to support building a more peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
For our Chats Over Chai podcast this month, I really enjoyed sitting down with chef, writer and entrepreneur Helly Raichura to discuss her philosophy on educating those who dine at her restaurant on the regional food of India. You can listen to the conversation here.
Also a belated happy India Independence Day. I was fortunate to be in both Canberra with Indian High Commissioner H.E Gopal Baglay and Sydney with Premier the Hon. Chris Minns MP and Consul General Dr S. Janakiraman and celebrate the important contributions the Indian Diaspora make to Australia in building stronger cultural ties between our two nations.