MEDIA RELEASE
Australia India Leadership Dialogue 2023
The Australia India Leadership Dialogue will be hosted in Melbourne tomorrow, bringing together over 100 influential leaders from business, academia, and government to help shape the trajectory of the deepening relationship between the two nations.
The event is hosted and co-chaired by the Australia India Institute’s CEO, former Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh, and co-chaired by Avani Prabhakar, Global Head of Talent and HR Business Partners of Atlassian, principal corporate partner of the Dialogue.
High profile Australian delegates include:
- The Hon. Penny Wong, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs (via video address)
- The Hon. Simon Birmingham, Australian Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs
- E. Philip Green, Australian High Commissioner to India
- The Hon. Tim Watts MP, Australia’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs
- The Hon. Dan Tehan MP, Australian Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
- Mrs Kate Pounder, CEO, Technology Council of Australia
- Mr Peter Varghese AO, Chancellor of the University of Queensland
High profile Indian delegates include:
- Shri Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indian Minister for External Affairs (via video address)
- Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR), Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, India
- E. Manpreet Vohra, Indian High Commissioner to Australia
- Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, Distinguished Fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation
- Shri Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India
- Miss Pallavi Sharda, Founder, Bodhini Studios
The Track 1.5 Dialogue is the premier forum for informal diplomacy between Australia and India, focused on emerging technology in our modern world. The Dialogue is held under the Chatham House Rule, however the lunch panel discussion on ‘The Inclusive Workforce in the Digital Age’ featuring government ministers and business leaders is open to the media.
The high-level sessions will address four key themes: clean energy, jobs and skills, security and geopolitics, and technology and culture.
Atlassian’s Avani Prabhakar said “Atlassian is thrilled to be the principal partner of the Australia India Leadership Dialogue for a second year. Our ties with India are only getting stronger: it’s our fastest-growing talent location, our third largest employee base and our R&D team employed across the country has a global impact on our business.
“Forums like the AILD are critical for driving conversations around the issues that will deliver mutually beneficial opportunities in Australia-India relations.”
Ms Singh said the Dialogue is about providing markers for the future for the two countries.
“There’s never been a more favourable time for the Australia-India bilateral relationship, as the ties between our two nations reach new heights of collaboration and cooperation,” Ms Singh said.
“The Australia India Leadership Dialogue serves as a crucial platform for finding solutions to the myriad of challenges faced not only by our two nations but also on a global scale.
“Now is the time to leverage the current global attention on India and shape a positive and impactful trajectory for the Australia-India bilateral relationship.”
As the buzz around ‘inclusivity’ dominates workplace policy discussions in 2023, the Australia India Leadership Dialogue (AILD) emerges as a pivotal platform for shaping conversations on fostering an inclusive digital workforce.
As part of the dialogue, the Australia India Institute will also launch its ‘Working from Anywhere: Accessing Indian Tech Talent’ report. The report investigates the use of technology in remote work, emphasising the delicate balance between traditional workplace structures and the digital flexibility afforded by emerging technologies.
It will also feature a panel discussion unpacking workplace inclusivity in a digital landscape. The event will discuss the challenges and opportunities brought on by the tech revolution. Pannelists include:
- The Hon. Natalie Hutchins MP, Minister for Jobs and Industry and Minister for Women
- Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Avani Prabhakar, Global Head of Talent and HR Business Partners, Atlassian
- Moderated by Mr. Stephen Dziedzic, Foreign Affairs (Asia Pacific) reporter, ABC
Further information about the Dialogue:
This is the second year the Australia India Institute has partnered with Atlassian for the Australia India Leadership Dialogue.
The Australia India Institute is also partnering with Air India, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Tata Consulting Services (TCS), University of Melbourne, and the Victorian Government.
The Dialogue will enhance Australia’s ICT brand in India and globally as a key player in building the relationship of both countries through technology and innovation. It will showcase the importance of India to Australia in developing its commercial tech footprint.
Addressing the challenges and opportunities of living in a disruptive world, the Dialogue will investigate how both countries can change the conversation around collaboration, mobility, skills, and talent.
Since 2008, the Australia India Institute has enhanced understanding and cooperation between Australia and India and provides thought leadership on India-specific engagement for Australians.