The 2026 Asia Capability Forum, co-convened by the ASEAN-Australia Centre, China Studies Centre and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, will bring together leaders and practitioners from universities, government, business, education and community organisations to consider practical ways to strengthen Australia’s Asia capability.

The Forum will focus on effective practices, scalable models and opportunities for greater coordination across sectors. Informed by recent national policy developments, discussions will aim to generate recommendations that can be progressed through collaboration between universities and their partners.

Welcome to Country and Opening Remarks

Panel 1: Solving the language pipeline: Asian languages in crisis | Indonesian literacy in Australia

• The Hon Tim Watts MP, Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education; Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs
• H.E. Dr Siswo Pramono, Ambassador for the Republic of Indonesia to Australia
• Mr Julian Bowen, Assistant Secretary, Indonesia Branch, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• Associate Professor Sharyn Davies, Director, Herb Feith Indonesia Engagement Centre, Monash University
• Moderator: Ms Fiona Hoggart, Head of ASEAN-Australia Centre

Panel 2: Universities as guardians of sovereign capability: Hubs, compacts and research

• Mr David Turvey PSM, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC)
• Mr Ryan Neelam, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR)
• Professor Michele Ford, Deputy Head of School (Research); Professor of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney
• Moderator: TBC

Panel 3: Building Asia capability beyond the classroom: Government, business and the future

• Professor Nicholas Farrelly, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Arts and Society), University of Tasmania
• Ms Amy Lyden, Chief Executive Officer of Westpac Scholars Trust and Westpac Foundation
• Mr Andy Trieu, Television Presenter, host of SBS PopAsia, actor and producer
• Moderator: Mr Andrew Phong, ASEAN-Australia Centre

Closing session: Presentation of Joint Communiqué

Contribute to the Communiqué

Add your voice to the Joint Communiqué, to be released at the Forum. Here’s how to contribute:

• Help inform the Joint Communiqué: Complete the survey
• Share an initiative building Asia capability at your institution: Submit your case study

Event details