Asia Society Australia is pleased to host an Executive Briefing with Mr. Allaster Cox, High Commissioner to Singapore.

This event is part of our Executive Briefing series, which brings together senior government and business leaders in a small closed-door forum to discuss the key issues shaping Australia’s prosperity and security in Asia.

Mr. Cox will discuss the current geopolitical landscape in Southeast Asia and key foreign policy issues Australia is facing in the region. He will also reflect on Australia - Singapore relations and Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy. Following his remarks, participants will be invited to ask questions and share their own perspectives.

Date: Tuesday 18 February 2025 
Time: 12:15pm arrival for a 12:30pm start. The event will conclude at 2:00pm.
Location: Melbourne CBD

This event is strictly invitation-only and this invitation is non-transferrable. It will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule. Registration is essential as tickets are limited. For any enquiries, please contact [email protected].

This event is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and hosted by La Trobe Financial.

About our speaker

Allaster Cox, Australian High Commissioner to Singapore

Mr Allaster Cox is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently Australian High Commissioner to Singapore.

Prior to this, he was the First Assistant Secretary Strategy & Development in the Office of Southeast Asia (2022-23), following his posting to Jakarta (2017-21) as Deputy Head of Mission.

Allaster has had a long career in Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) working mainly on Southeast Asia, including in Canberra as Division Head for Southeast Asia (2013-17), and overseas as Ambassador to Vietnam (2008-12) and Brunei Darussalam (2001-03).

He has previously worked on the US relationship including as Branch Head for Asia, Americas and Trade (International Division) at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2004-06) and later at US Branch in DFAT (2006-07). He was the Head of Policy Planning at DFAT in 2007-08 and has had earlier postings in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Brunei.

Educated at Sydney University in Economics, Government and Law, he is married with two adult children.