Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr Bill Paterson PSM, will brief Asia Society Australia members about the state of the Australia-Korea economic partnership, following the entrance into force of the Australia-Korea Free Trade Agreement in 2014.

The briefing will be held under the Chatham House Rule. It will provide guests with an excellent opportunity to engage with the guest speaker and learn first-hand about the political and economic dimensions of one of Australia's most important relationships in Asia.

This event is open to members of Asia Society Australia and invited guests only. RSVP is essential by 20 July. For more information please contact [email protected].

About our speaker:

Mr Paterson is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Before taking up his position in Korea he was First Assistant Secretary, International Security Division in Canberra and Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Mr Paterson has previously served as Ambassador to Thailand, Minister at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Washington and in earlier postings to Vienna, Baghdad and Dhaka. He was also Chief of Staff to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in 2000. Mr Paterson holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and has worked extensively on strategic and security policy in Australia and overseas.

Asia Society Australia’s Executive Briefings are a curated series of meetings presented by diplomats, business leaders and subject matter experts from Asia and Australia. Designed to offer a deep dive into the critical issues of the day, to an audience of senior executives from the business, political, educational and cultural institutions that make up the Asia Society network.

The policy briefing is generously sponsored by KPMG.