My Take | Australia is finally forging deeper ties with Asean. So why is it not making use of its Asian diaspora?

Few members of Australia’s Asian diaspora have been nominated as Canberra’s 10 new Southeast Asian business champions to boost commercial ties with Asean

Having more Southeast Asian-Australians on the team would help showcase Australia’s multiculturalism and willingness to invest in new talent

Reading Time:3 minutes

Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (left) and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Asean-Australia Special Summit 2024 in Melbourne on March 6. Photo: Asean-Australia Special Summit 2024/AFP

Published: 10:00am, 29 Mar 2024Updated: 12:43pm, 1 Apr 2024

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong knows the importance of language in connecting with people or an entire region.

She recently finished her introductory remarks to a speech by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the Australian National University with a Malay proverb ke bukit sama didaki, ke lurah sama dituruni, which translates to “climbing a hill together and descending together” and speaks to a strong bond between parties.

To create a deeper connection with Asia, businesses, think tanks and advocacy groups in Australia have long supported the importance of using the country’s greatest asset: its Asian diaspora.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (centre) and his wife Wan Azizah Ismail (left) clap as Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) gets up to speak during an event at the Australian National University in Canberra on March 7. Photo: AFP

Language, culture, and even idiosyncratic body language all matter, as Wong and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would know.

So it is surprising to see so few members of the diaspora nominated as Canberra’s 10 new Southeast Asian business champions, whose jobs are to turbocharge commercial ties between Australia and Asean. It is also a shame not to see Canberra nurture new names from the diaspora to represent Australia.

At a special Asean-Australia summit a few weeks ago, Canberra named Macquarie chief executive Shemara Wikramanayake to champion business links with the Philippines, Western Sydney University chancellor Jennifer Westacott for Indonesia and ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott for Singapore.

Aurecon chief operating officer Louise Adams will handle Vietnam, Lendlease CEO Tony Lombardo will tackle Malaysia, while AgCoTech chairman Charles Olsson will connect with Laos.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}My Take | Australia is finally forging deeper ties with Asean. So why is it not making use of its Asian diaspora?

My Take | Australia is finally forging deeper ties with Asean. So why is it not making use of its Asian diaspora?