MEDIA RELEASE
Over 100 business, academic and government leaders from Australia and India will converge for a one-day event to set the pace for Canberra’s deepening relationship with New Delhi at the Australia India Leadership Dialogue tomorrow.
The event is hosted and co-chaired by the Australia India Institute’s CEO, former Senator the Hon. Lisa Singh, and co-chaired by Mike Cannon-Brookes, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Atlassian, principal corporate partner of the Dialogue.
High profile Australian delegates include:
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (via video address)
- H.E. Barry O’Farrell, Australian High Commissioner to India
- The Hon. Dan Tehan, Federal Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
- Mr Andrew Forrest AO, CEO of Fortescue Metals
- Mr Simon Duggan, G20 Sherpa of Australia
- Ms Jennifer Westacott, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia
- Professor Mark Scott AO, Vice-Chancellor of University of Sydney
High profile Indian delegates include:
- Federal Minister for External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar (via video address)
- Minister PTR, Minister for Finance, Human Resources and Management, Government of Tamil Nadu
- Mr. Gaurav Gogoi MP, Member of Congress Party, Lok Sabha, Parliament of India
- Mr. Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- Mr. Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman of Bharti Enterprises
- Mr. Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India
The Track 1.5 Dialogue is the premier forum for informal diplomacy between Australia and India, focussing on emerging technology. The Dialogue is Chatham House rules, however the lunch event featuring Mike Cannon-Brookes is open to all media.
The high-level sessions will address emerging technology in our modern world. This will cover combatting new geopolitical threats; new opportunities in the clean tech sector; harnessing global tech talent and skills; and transforming service delivery in everyday life.
Mike Cannon-Brookes said the relationship between India and Australia was significant for tech talent.
“India’s tech talent is world-class, and we want to hire the smartest technical minds across the country. Since opening locally in 2018, India has become home to our fastest growing R&D site globally, and our doors are now open to talent across all of India.
Our engineers are working on hard problems, and significant products for our overall strategy – it’s a true R&D hub for us,” he said.
Ms Singh said the Dialogue is about providing markers for the future for the two countries.
“Canberra’s relationship with New Delhi is among the most important and critical for the future of our Indo-Pacific. Few countries in our region have more in common in terms of shared values and interests than Australia and India.
“Therefore, the Australia-India Leadership Dialogue is critical because ideas matter in a relationship as much as transactions and negotiations do,” Ms Singh said.
“Stable, strong and sustainable relationships are built not just on the possibility of immediate gains, but on the promise of the future.
“In other words, the relationship is far too important to be left to the two governments alone. Governments matter tremendously, but forums such as these can provide the space and the ambience that can infuse new ideas to generate a new energy into the relationship.
Ms Singh said the topic of emerging tech was the next step for the bilateral relationship.
“Emerging technology is seen as a key driver for Australia and India to deepen ties, particularly as Australia wants to find alternative markets to China and diversify supply chains for its in critical minerals,” she said.
“Through actively building stronger relationships and profile, engaging experts and thought leaders, this 2022 Leadership Dialogue can act as a gamechanger for the future Australia-India footprint.
“I am looking forward to the seeds that will germinate through discussions from a broad range of business executives, government officials and scholars addressing shared challenges.”
Further information about the Dialogue:
The partnership will run for two years and be held in India in 2022 and in Australia in 2023. Australia India Institute is also partnering with The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), ANZ India, Tata Consulting Services (TCS) and the University of Melbourne. 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. The previous principal corporate sponsor of the Australia India Leadership Dialogue was Anthony Pratt’s Visy Industries.
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