The bipartisan Leadership Dialogue aims to advance understanding between American and Australian leaders on matters of designated mutual interest, such as defense, security and conversation about our shared Asia Pacific neighborhood.
2011 Australian American Leadership Dialogue
Beginning in 2010, the East-West Center has been host to an annual Leadership Dialogue in Honolulu, complementing the long-standing AALD which is held on alternative years in Washington, DC and a city in Australia. The Honolulu meetings make possible interaction between the Australian leaders and American participants from the EWC, Pacific Forum CSIS, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and the Pacific Command, as well as private sector figures from Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. The Australian participants also visit the Pacific Command each year for a roundtable discussion with the US Pacific Commander and his staff.
Discussion at the 2011 Honolulu AALD, the third such symposium, focused on political developments in each country as well the American and Australian perspectives on Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the future role of regional organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and East-Asia Summit meetings that would take place the following month. Australian participants included Minister for Defense Materiel Jason Clare, Parliamentary Secretary for Defense David Feeney, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard Marles and three other members of Parliament from both the ruling coalition and the opposition.
Program Dates: October 2 - 4, 2011
Program Location: Keoni Auditorium, Imin International Conference Center, East-West Center, Honolulu, HI