West Coast Leadership Dialogue 2007

12/20/2006
Eeva Moore,

On January 8 and 9, 2007, IR/PS will host the Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD). The two-day event is an opportunity for UC San Diego academic units, including IR/PS and the Center for US-Mexican Studies to engage in a two-way exchange with leaders from Australia. The Dialogue links San Diego and Australian business, government, and scientific experts.

Founded in 1992, AALD has become a highly successful bipartisan, bilateral civil diplomatic initiative, bringing high profile leaders from both countries face to face each year. The mission of the Dialogue is to promote the economic growth of Australia, but it also has a strong positive impact on the Southern California business community.

“The AALD's visit represents the emergence of the West Coast as a priority for the leaders of other countries.” Said IR/PS Dean Peter Cowhey “For decades foreign leaders have visited California but they have assumed that leadership dialogues about the future must run through the Boston-Washington corridor. IR/PS is honored to join the AALD in introducing a long-term discussion among leaders of California and Australia about our common interests and challenges.”

The partnership between AALD and IR/PS began in January 2006 when Robert Carr, former Premier of New South Wales, spoke at IR/PS during the AALD’s annual delegation visit to the United States. Last January’s event became the perfect catalyst for the next steps in what we believe must evolve into a long term program, resulting in permanently connecting leaders in both countries.

Both parties agree the time is right to create a multi-year Southern California/Australia Fellows program linking emerging leaders in both locales to build a uniquely informed and mutually beneficial network of individuals for years to come. The focus would be on major issues including trade, high tech, biotech, energy, food, and agriculture, water, immigration and education. We are hoping to explore the idea of this fellowships program at the upcoming two-day AALD event.