***Join us for our special event with Australia's former Ambassador to the US, Japan, Indonesia and High Commissioner to India on his reflections on Australia's relations with Asia, including future prospects under a second Trump Administration***

The Australian Institute of International Affairs of WA ( AIIA WA), in partnership with the Minerals Council of Australia, is pleased to announce that our special guest speaker for our Christmas event on 5 December 2024 will be John McCarthy AO FAIIA who will deliver a thought-provoking speech about Australia's relations with Asia.

John has been Australia's ambassador to Vietnam, Thailand, Mexico, the United States, Indonesia and Japan, a High Commissioner to India, a senior official of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a National President of the AIIA. He has been a central figure in Australia's foreign policy community with deep personal experience in the navigation of Australia's relations in the region spanning more than half a century.

This will be a rare opportunity to hear one of Australia's most knowledgeable diplomats, talking from personal experience in developing strategy and working with the day-to-day issues of policy creation and management. One area of focus will be his experience as Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia from 1997-2001. This was a period of significant change in that country and the region. In 1999, East Timor held a referendum for independence that was followed by conflict and intervention by the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) led by Australia. This year marks INTEFET's 25th anniversary.

Reflecting on his journey, John will also provide his views on Australia's critical policy choices in Asia in this challenging time in world affairs, often described as the most difficult since the end of the Second World War.