Asialink

Program Outline

Draft dates for 2011 Asialink Leaders Program - Download (PDF)


Module 1: Workshops

March

Why History and Culture Matter

A three-day program of workshops, guest speakers and site visits

This opening program covers topical issues affecting individual contemporary Asian countries and, more broadly, the region. Senior Asia-focused professionals provide expert briefings on immediate challenges and long-term issues regionally.

A special focus on Cross-Cultural issues provides a practical insight into the way culture informs business practice across all sectors.

Workshop benefits include:

  • essential knowledge of the way history and culture impact on contemporary Asia
  • thought provoking insights into the complex pressures and trends affecting Asia's diverse contexts and Asia-Australia relations
  • developing a sophisticated understanding of what is currently important for individual countries within the region
  • introductions to a deep understanding of Cross-Cultural Intelligence and why this matters for Australian businesses
  • a first-hand experience of Islam and its leadership in Australia

June

Leading and Managing Globally

Facilitator: Dr Margaret Byrne, Principal Consultant, UGM Consulting

Building on the March workshop, derived from a solid research base and conducted by expert facilitators, this two-day experiential workshop equips participants to achieve business and leadership goals in settings very different from Australia.

The module builds:

  • a framework for understanding the practical challenges involved in cross-cultural communication and leadership
  • knowledge of cultural value systems and their influence on leadership practices in Asia and Australia
  • Cross-cultural communication and negotiation skills
  • performance management skills for multi-national and multicultural teams
  • appreciation for the common types of ethical dilemmas encountered in international settings, and develops approaches for their resolution

Benefits:

  • provides participants with the skills to manage effectively across cultures
  • builds a greater awareness and understanding of the different approaches to argument, persuasion and influence in culturally diverse business settings
  • encourages strategies for developing and maintaining long term business partnerships with colleagues and counterparts across the region

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Module 2: Dinner Series

Dinners and special events, including the annual prestigious Asialink Chairman's dinner, provide the opportunity for participants to be briefed on and discuss issues for Australia and the region with Asia-focused leaders. Participants will also be invited to Asialink and Asia Society AustralAsia Centre special events throughout the year.

Asia focused dinners will take place in April, July and October; the Asialink Chairman's Dinner will be held in December.

Benefits include:
  • access to important information and networks
  • the opportunity for in-depth discussion of issues with leaders in Asia-Australia relations, and peers.

Module 3: September Retreat, Canberra

Regional trends and issues for Australian policy-makers

Facilitator: Professor Tony Milner
Sunday to Thursday

Based at the ANU, Canberra, this five-day module immerses participants in the current challenges facing Australia’s leadership in bi-lateral and regional relationships. Economics, politics, history, diplomacy, culture and national security, and the relationships between them, are dissected and analysed by Australia's politicians, their advisers and critics from the government, academic, community and private sectors.

Retreat benefits include:
  • gaining an understanding of the multi-layered contexts and agendas influencing Australia's wide ranging engagement with the region
  • a broadened perspective, aiding the understanding of how decision-making occurs in Asia-Australia relations
  • unique access to the people and issues that determine and influence policy and direction for Australia's bi- and multi-lateral relationships with the region
Check out the 2009 Asialink Leaders retreat program and speakers
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Module 4: Projects

Participants will undertake a personal Asia-related project, which may be related to their work, organisation or a personal interest.  Each participant is mentored through the process of defining the issue, the values addressed and framing of the project’s objectives, and supported throughout their project’s development to implement a practical strategy that will address these issues.

The Aims:

  • take the program’s messages to a broader audience
  • provide opportunities for participants to enhance their leadership skills
  • extend and strengthen participants' Asia-related knowledge and networks

A full-day workshop (May) and dinner (August) will introduce and develop the project module. Grant Robertson, Principal Consultant, UGM Consulting, will provide a set of tools and techniques to manage projects thereby ensuring each participant meets their stated objectives.

Projects are presented in November.

Descriptions of projects from previous years are available.