Confluence and Creation in Asia and the Pacific: Asia Pacific Week 2024
While many students reach the third week of June with thoughts of hibernation and plans of escape to warmer climes, others are drawn back to campus by the promise of four days of intellectual stimulation, cultural enrichment, academic networking and hearty meals. The College of Asia and the Pacific’s annual Asia Pacific Week was held from 17−20 June and highlighted all that is special and unique about the ANU community. From the inspiring keynote presentation by Samoan-Australian journalist, Tahlea Aualiitia on the opening morning to the surprisingly entertaining closing message from the ANU graduate, former Prime Minister and Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC, APW2024 was a conference like no other.
Emerging leaders from overseas, inter-state and the ANU came together to participate in a lively program featuring five academic panels led by ANU experts speaking on climate change, gender & sexuality, geopolitics, the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit and youth representation; a multicultural fair including a spectacular Gamelan performance, a Henna workshop and Papua New Guinean folk and string-figure demonstration by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau’s Deveni Temu; short language tasters with food and tutorials from School of Culture, History and Language staff including Tok Pisin, Mongolian, Hindi and Indonesian; a women in diplomacy careers chat featuring refreshingly frank reflections from leading Canberra-based diplomats; a Pacific short-film festival and an expertly designed Canberra self-guided tour in the final afternoon.
It's been a week full of learning, sharing, and connecting with some amazing individuals. I've left feeling enlightened, inspired, and empowered. – Dantzel Tiakia, International Delegate from New Zealand.
Asia Pacific Week 2024 could not have happened without the hard work and dedication of the students and staff of the College of Asia and the Pacific and the wider Australian National University community. Planning was led by undergraduate Director, Hebe Ren, and a team of 12 undergraduate committee members who met, rain or shine, deep in the HC Coombs building every Friday afternoon over the semester. As the first-time convenors, Dr Denghua Zhang and I, Dr Nick Hoare, did not quite know what we were getting ourselves into, but thanks to the resourcefulness, talent, good-humour, and patience of the student committee and College of Asia and the Pacific professional staff, the planning was a breeze. Of course, the 2024 committee was fortunate to have received comprehensive handover notes from 2023’s Director Saskia O’George and academic convenor, Prof Katerina Teaiwa (CHL), who both brought the conference to life again last year after several years of Covid-19.
The conference will be organised by the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs once again next year and the convenors (myself and Prof Paul Hutchcroft) are looking forward to showcasing an even greater variety of themes and ANU scholarship including more Indigenous content to better reflect the College’s growing expertise in these areas. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and constructive, and we look forward to building on the successes of 2024.
ANU students wishing to be involved in the 2025 conference should be advised that applications for conference Director will be advertised in late 2024 and organising committee positions in early 2025. Enrolment in ASIA3023 – Asia Pacific Week Internship is by competitive entry, but students may also partake by volunteering 90 hours through ANU+. The internship is a unique opportunity for high-performing undergraduate students to put into practice what they have been learning in the classroom.
ANU’s 14th Asia Pacific Week was hands down one of the best international conferences out there…. From climate change to diplomacy and everything in between, it gave us such a fresh and equal perspective on what we can do as global ambassadors… Thank you so much APW Committee for this life-changing experience. – Kenzo Navarro, International Delegate from the Philippines.
Dr Nick Hoare is a Pacific History Research Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA) at the Australian National University. Dr Denghua Zhang is a Research Fellow at DPA. He completed his PhD program on Chinese foreign aid and trilateral aid cooperation at ANU.