Sydney hosts the inaugural Pacific Connect Forum

The International Centre for Democratic Partnerships (ICDP) and Global Access Partners (GAP) are hosting the inaugural Pacific Connect Forum at NSW Parliament House on Thursday 6 September.

Diverging regional priorities at the Pacific Islands Forum

Pacific Island leaders are likely to assert their interests at the expense of Australia’s at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru.

Getting realistic about the South Pacific

There are plenty of new ideas about boosting engagement with the South Pacific, but steadiness, consistency and a good dose of respect will serve Australia best in the long term.

French classes in Australia need to acknowledge our Pacific neighbours

We need to change the way French is taught to young Australians to sustain geo-political relations with French-speaking Pacific nations in the future.

Open hands beat clenched fists in the Pacific

A combination of simple and immediate steps, symbolic events that build interpersonal connections and some ‘crazy’ ideas whose time is coming could inspire better relations with our Pacific neighbours than fearful policies couched in the language of risk and competition.

Pivoting to the Pacific

China’s growing power in the Pacific has provoked a flurry of action from democratic nations in response, but how do the aid numbers add up? New research from the Lowry Institute makes sense of the data.

ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee elects a new Chair

The new Chair-Elect of ALAC, Maureen Hilyard from the Cook Islands, talks about her selection process and the work of the committee on regional internet issues.

International education is vital to Australia’s Indo-Pacific relationships

International education means a lot more than foreign students merely coming to study in Australia and then leaving with a degree, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has told a meeting at UNSW Sydney.

Ham and eggs: who’s really committed in the Indo-Pacific?

When you cook bacon and eggs, you know the chicken is interested but the pig is committed. The same could be said about the Pacific region. Some nations are committed. Others have an interest, but only in those areas that deliver outcomes to their specific national objectives.

Innovations for Pacific cities of the future

The inaugural Smart City Challenge held in Fiji’s capital city, Suva, on July 28 brought together 60 university students from the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific. The winners of the ‘hackathon’ won access to funding and training to develop their solution through the Fiji Government’s Young Entrepreneur Scheme.

Australia in the South Pacific: Growing the yabby’s second claw

Australian engagement with our South Pacific partners is getting a lot of attention, as is Chinese engagement in the region. But there’s a missing link in our attempts to build better relations – the Australian corporate sector’s buy-in to South Pacific economies.

A visit to Namotomoto shows the power of small data

UNSW’s Simone Zarpelon Leao made a valuable discovery while in Fiji for a symposium with Pacific Island communities on sustainable infrastructure and housing maintenance.