New South Wales Governor, His Excellency David Hurley AS DSC (Ret’d), hosts Australia-Indonesia Leaders Program delegates and VIP guests at Government House.
On Wednesday 16 November, the fourth Australia-Indonesia Leaders Program began with 18 delegates from Indonesia and nine delegates from Australia convening for a welcome event at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Announcing the theme of the program – Public Diplomacy, Infrastructure and Innovation – was Department of Industry, Innovation and Science International and Strategic Engagement Manager, and Leaders Program alum, Donna Burgess.
The delegates hail from the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, government and private industry from both countries, and academia.
The group attended a special reception at New South Wales Government House, with His Excellency and Mrs Linda Hurley. The delegates were joined by Indonesia’s Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Najib Riphat Kesoema and Mrs Nino Riphat Kesoema; Consul General to New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland, His Excellency Yayan Mulyana and Mrs Irene Mulyana; Head of Center for Education and Training, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Eko Hartono; and Director of The Australia-Indonesia Centre Paul Ramadge.
Delivering an address in Bahasa Indonesia, and then translating, the Governor spoke of the personal, political and trade relationships between the two nations, of “cooperative leadership within the region, support for shared imperatives and initiatives, and binding economic interests”.
“It is important to ensure our leaders of the future have insight into what motivates and drives each country,” he said.
The Australia-Indonesia Leaders Program continues in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra through November, with the delegates attending courses from Monash University, Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney, and Bandung Institute of Technology; innovation sessions with Microsoft, Telstra, IP Australia and Carlton Connect; a roundtable dialogue with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; a diplomatic masterclass with former ambassadors; as well as cultural events.
