AIIA National Conference: A major opportunity for Bell School students

On 11 - 12 November, the Australian Institute of International Affairs will convene its annual National Conference - one of the country’s premier foreign-policy gatherings. The Bell School is proud to again support the event as a sponsor and as the venue host for the Masterclasses.

As part of this partnership, ten outstanding Bell School postgraduate students will be offered a fully funded program: participation in the AIIA Masterclasses on Sunday, a special diplomatic reception at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and full access to the Monday conference. It is an exceptional chance to learn from senior practitioners, meet industry leaders, and connect with more than 400 delegates from across government, academia, business, media and civil society.

Each selected student will also receive a year of AIIA membership, providing access to Australia’s leading public network of expertise on international affairs.
 

Facing Fragmentation - The 2024 conference theme

The AIIA National Conference is widely recognised as the country’s most significant public forum on Australian foreign policy. This year’s theme, Facing Fragmentation: Possibilities and Partnerships in a Fragile World, examines the pressures currently reshaping global politics and the role Australia can play.

Sessions will explore pressing questions such as:

• What partnerships and possibilities can Australia cultivate to navigate an increasingly fragmented world?

• How should Australia approach its closest regional relationships?

• How can we prepare for unexpected natural and geopolitical shocks?

• What part can the private sector play in advancing national interests?

• Can Australia help shore up - or even rebuild - the multilateral system?

• What lessons from past shifts in great-power politics can guide current policy?

• And, inevitably, what will be the immediate consequences of the 2024 US presidential election for Australia’s longstanding alliance?
   

Who will be in the room?

Supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the conference brings together ministerial-level speakers, senior officials from across government, leading academics, business executives and journalists. In 2023, delegates and speakers represented more than 40 countries, including forty AIIA Fellows - some of the most influential voices in Australian international affairs.

The Masterclasses draw early-career professionals from across the Indo-Pacific, alongside high-performing tertiary students. Led by seasoned diplomats and practitioners, the sessions offer rare opportunities for small-group exchanges with experts at the forefront of policy and practice.
 

What do students gain?

Abby Higgins, a Master of International Law and Diplomacy student who joined the 2023 cohort, described the Masterclasses as:

“Highly engaging and informative. Accomplished diplomats spoke candidly about their experiences and the enduring importance of multilateralism at a time when democracies appear to be ‘in retreat’ and the world faces a ‘great fracture’.”

Reflecting on the main conference, she said:

“It was an excellent opportunity to meet people in the foreign-policy community and deepen my understanding of the ‘polycrisis’. The sessions offered clear insight into the ideological divides and the mounting challenges facing the liberal rules-based order.”

Her assessment was simple:

“The experience was invaluable and gave me a new appreciation of the complexities facing Australia’s foreign-policy decision-makers.”
 

Alfin Basundoro, a Master of Strategic Studies (Advanced) student, recalled the 2023 AIIA program as:

“An incredibly enriching experience. The Masterclass deepened my understanding of how diplomats and businesses respond to global challenges, while the breakout sessions broadened my perspective on Australia’s strategies for managing the polycrisis.”

For him, the highlight was the diplomatic reception:

“Connecting with colleagues from diverse backgrounds - students, young professionals, officials - provided insights that significantly broadened my perspective and enhanced my professional capacity.”
 

Our partnership with AIIA

The Bell School’s collaboration with AIIA extends well beyond the conference. In 2023, we partnered with the AIIA ACT Branch to host a careers evening focused on pathways in international affairs. Attendees included ANU, UC and UNSW Canberra students, New Colombo Plan alumni, and young professionals from across Canberra.

The panel - featuring representatives from DFAT, KPMG, Equity Economics, Asialink and the International Committee of the Red Cross - shared candid reflections on the skills, knowledge and attributes needed for global careers. The core message: understand the world beyond Australia’s borders, and prepare early for international opportunities.

Who is AIIA?

Founded almost a century ago, AIIA is Australia’s longest-running private research institute dedicated to international relations. Its mission is to help Australians understand and engage in global affairs. The ACT Branch alone has more than 270 members - diplomats, public servants, academics, NGOs, students and community leaders - who participate in a wide range of events on political, security, economic and development issues.

Looking ahead

The Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs is proud to continue its partnership with AIIA as a sponsor and venue host for the 2024 National Conference. We are delighted to once again offer this opportunity to a select group of exceptional postgraduate students.

How you can get involved

If these are the kinds of experiences you’d like to be part of, explore our postgraduate programs - you could be among next year’s cohort stepping into the room where Australia’s foreign-policy debates take shape.