Strategic Plan 2021-2026

Global Asia Society Statement of Purpose

The Asia Society’s purpose is to navigate shared futures for Asia and the world across policy, business, arts and culture, education, sustainability, and technology.

Our Vision

We strive to be Australia’s leading global think-tank dedicated to Asia, focussing on the interplay between business and policy.

We connect business, policy and society, helping Australians to understand and engage with Asia and to navigate our shared futures.

Our Mission

Our mission is to prepare Australians for deeper and sustainable engagement with a more complex Asia.

Our Values

1. Excellence: we provide world-class expertise, a region-wide perspective and a global outlook.
2. Independence: we are an independent, non-partisan, non-political, non-profit organisation with a national mission.
3. Diversity and inclusion: We are a champion of diversity - of regional outlook, of culture, of opinion and of our Asian-Australian communities. 
4. Respect and integrity: We value every member of our network for the contribution they make to our success.  We act with the highest standards to encourage freedom of expression, creativity, collegiality, and robust and respectful debate.

Our Value Proposition

Inform and inspire: We provide a global perspective – with an Australian focus -  to geopolitical, economic, business and social trends and developments across Asia to help and inspire Australian leaders and organisations make informed decisions, achieve business outcomes and engage effectively and sustainably with Asia.

Connect and contribute: We connect Australian leaders, organisations and communities with each other, with their peers in Asia and across the Asia Society’s global network, to build relationships, share insights, develop understanding and contribute to solutions for our shared future.

Empower: We develop Australia’s capability to engage with Asia, to strengthen our prosperity and security, and to enable greater contribution of our communities to Australia’s shared future in Asia.

Our Goals

Our goals for Asia Society Australia are:

1. to be the leading voice in Australia about Asia’s business, politics and society, and to be a leading voice about Australia in Asia; 
2. to be a truly national institution and a digital-first organisation, with the national centre in Melbourne, an office in Sydney and accessible across Australia and globally through face-to-face and digital platforms;
3. to be a leading contributor to solving the national policy challenges of building deeper economic, political and people relationships, and a better understanding of the cultures across Asia, pursuing shared aspirations, and managing strategic challenges with our partners in Asia; and
4. to expand our in-house expertise, strengthen our reputation as a champion and a convenor of informed debate and dialogue, and to be a major contributor to Asia Society’s global programs and publications.

Our Priorities

Our strategic priorities are linked to the major challenges and opportunities that are facing Australia and Asia.

Broaden and deepen our understanding of a complex Asia

Challenge: Australia is living in an increasingly contested region. Geopolitics and economics, business and policy, digital and climate change issues in Asia are increasingly complex and intertwined, and are affecting Australia’s relations across Asia.

Our focus: Build a deeper understanding of geopolitical and economic trends in Asia, and their influence on Australia, and the broad range of relationships which Australia must develop and manage across Asia and as being a part of Asia.

Trade and invest smarter to grow faster

Challenge: Australia is diversifying its trade and investment partnerships and facing an intensifying competition for capital, markets and talent. Our limited business presence across Asia, relatively narrow economic base and under-developed Asia capabilities and understanding have been accentuated by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, the digital revolution and the changing geopolitical environment.  These factors combine to create a powerful impetus for Australia to develop new economic partners across Asia and to lead innovation in trade.

Our focus: Help inform Australia’s trade and investment expansion and innovation, including in digital trade. Work with business and government to inform the design, implementation and advocacy of solutions and pathways to developing sustainable trade and investment partnerships in Asia. 

Learning to live with China

Challenge: Australia’s relationship with China has deteriorated as a result of political and strategic differences, distrust and the US-China competition. Yet China will continue to be one of Australia’s largest trading partners, and be a major global and regional economic power.

Our focus: Help inform the development of a more sustainable relationship with China. Contribute to shaping the next chapter of Australia’s economic engagement with China by building a better understanding of the Chinese economy, political system and policy-making, and how they impact Australia.

Create opportunities for the new Generation Asia

Challenge: Australia’s cultural, linguistic, business and professional literacy about Asia is being eroded by declining funding, the COVID-19 pandemic, policy apathy, and geopolitical and trade tensions. The next generation of Australians will be the most adversely affected by these challenges. Yet, digital transformation, demographic changes and accelerating global interconnectivity offer new solutions to improve our Asia capabilities.

Our focus: Reimagine Asia literacy and empower the next generation of Asia-engaged leaders by embedding cultural intelligence in everything we do; by showcasing Australian-Asian leadership and expertise; by promoting innovation in Asia literacy; by increasing accessibility of our content and programming to the broader community and to the younger generations; and by leveraging our platform, including Asia 21, to empower Asia-focused youth initiatives.