GEN A – Young Leaders Network

Connecting the next generation of Asia-engaged leaders

Gen A members at the first masterclass with Anna Green, CEO ANZ Bank (Laos)

For 60 years globally and 20 years in Australia, Asia Society has been building bridges of understanding between Asia and the world. We look forward to the next 60 years with optimism. But we are also aware of our responsibility to empower the new generation of Asia-engaged Australian leaders.

That's why we are introducing GEN A - a learning, networking and leadership development platform which supports young leaders from the Asia Society Australia network and our partners.

Launch

GEN A Program was launched on 10 November 2016 with an inter-generational conversation on changing the status quo in Australia's approach to cultural diversity in leadership of our institutions, presented in partnership with Bloomberg and the Australian Human Rights Commission. More>>

At a Glance

GEN A is Asia Society Australia’s Young Leaders Network.

It is a learning, networking and leadership development platform for young professionals from our member and partner organisations to enrich their understanding of Asia and Australia’s relations with the region. It will provide the participants with interest in Asia access to the Asia Society Australia member-only events and an annual series of Masterclasses specifically designed for the GEN A participants. The initial GEN A program will be delivered in Sydney and Melbourne.
 

How Does it Work?

Under GEN A, our corporate members will nominate their up-and-coming leaders to actively participate in the network for a period of one year, as a part of their corporate membership with Asia Society Australia.

Corporate members will also have an opportunity to host GEN A programs and showcase their organisation’s work to Australia’s future leaders.

What our GEN A members think about:

“It’s oh so quiet…” - Jessica Wirawan, Manager at PwC and Asia Society GEN A leader on volume as a bad indicator of leadership potential. More>>

 

Program

Events: Access to selected Asia Society Australia’s signature boardroom briefings and public events and specifically designed GEN A Masterclasses.

Leadership development: Advanced access and opportunity to engage with the Asia Society Australia Board and Advisory Council, and our partners & principal youth leadership forums and platforms focusing on Asia.

Social and Cultural Engagement: The program participants will have an opportunity to engage in and convene their own social and cultural activities focusing on building deep, holistic understanding of Asia through peer-to-peer learning.

Thought-leadership: Participants will have an opportunity to contribute to the Asia Society's award-winning content and assist in curating programs.

Network-building: The program will enable participants to meet their Asia-engaged peers and business, academic and policy leaders, and build and expand their professional network.

 

GEN A in action: Masterclass with Iwan Sunito, CEO and Founder, Crown Group

Dream Big, Start Small was the key message to the Gen A participants of the Masterclass with Iwan Sunito,  one of Australia's leading real estate entrepreneurs.

Born in Surabaya, Iwan Sunito was raised in the small town of Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan before moving to Australia as a teenager. Iwan studied architecture at the University of New South Wales from where he started his journey to become a leader in Australia's property industry and a founder of Crown, a multi award-winning company with offices in Sydney, Singapore and Indonesia.

Today, Crown Group has a portfolio of projects under construction and in the pipeline worth $4.8 billion. More>>
 

Nominations

Our philosophy is to let out our corporate members drive the nomination process and identify staff who will benefit most from being a part of the Asia Society network. 

Our Criteria is simple: 

  1. Aged 20 - 35
  2. Demonstrated interest in Asia and Australia-Asia relations, for example, through previous study and professional experience in Asia, current work on Asia-focused projects or strong interest in the region 
  3. Participants must commit to active participation in the program and attendance at all events and activities 
  4. They will also be expected to produce at least two written pieces, podcasts or videos throughout the year on the issues of interest.

 

Contact

For further information, feel free to contact our office on +61 2 81999402 or at programaustralia@asiasociety.org