Emerging Leaders

Emerging Leaders

The Emerging Leaders Track will bring together the next generation of Southeast Asian and Australian leaders to collaboratively discuss regional opportunities and challenges, and articulate their vision for the region’s future.

The Track will focus on building long-lasting connections, creating actionable plans and promoting ongoing engagement for a forward-looking and inclusive ASEAN-Australia partnership.

Participants will have demonstrated initiative in fields relevant to Australia-ASEAN engagement, including business and entrepreneurship, public policy, academia, science and technology, non-government organisations, and arts and culture.

Key themes and activities

• Working together to tackle common challenges and drive sustainable development
• Bolstering peace and stability in an increasingly contested region, and
• Promoting inclusive and resilient economic growth and deepening ASEAN-Australia trade
  and investment.

Australia will also host ASEAN Emerging Leaders for a week-long course covering these themes in greater depth.

Emerging Leaders will participate in a number of events in the lead up to the Summit to gain exposure to Australian society, culture and history, ensuring a holistic and enriching experience.

Fast Facts

• More than half (55%) of Southeast Asia’s 687 million people are aged under 35, with a median age of 30.4 years.(1)
• The Australian Government has a long history of engaging Southeast Asia’s emerging leaders, from the Colombo Plan in the 1950s to today’s Australia Awards, Aus4ASEAN, and Mekong Australia Partnership Scholarships.(2)
• 125,000 students from Southeast Asia currently study in Australia.(3)
• Since 2014, the New Colombo Plan has built Australia’s capability to engage in Southeast Asia, awarding 446 scholarships and 31,977 mobility grants for Australian undergraduates to undertake study and work-based experiences in the ASEAN region.(4)
• More than one million Australians have Southeast Asian heritage. This provides unique opportunities for cultural, economic and people-to-people links into the region. (5)

(1) Source: Nicholas Moore, Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, 2023, pp.9, pp. 18. https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/invested-southeast-asiaeconomic-strategy-2040.pdf. (2) Source: Australia Awards, https://australiaawards.com.au/about/. (3) Source: Nicholas Moore, Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, 2023, pp. 26, https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/invested-southeast-asia-economic-strategy-2040.pdf. (4) Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),
Data analysis of New Colombo Plan scholarships and mobility grants, DFAT, Australian Government. (5) Source: Nicholas Moore, Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, 2023, pp. 26, https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/invested-southeast-asia-economic-strategy-2040.pdf.

Case Studies

Aus4ASEAN Scholarships

100 Aus4ASEAN Scholars from ASEAN Member States are undertaking Masters level studies in Australia. Their studies focus on ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) priority areas:

• Maritime cooperation
• Connectivity
• Economic cooperation, and
• Sustainable Development Goals.

The 100 Aus4ASEAN Scholars are also participating in the ASEAN Scholars Leadership Program (ASLP). Under the ASLP, recipients develop the skills and knowledge to drive change and help build enduring people-to-people connections between ASEAN and Australia.

16 of the Aus4ASEAN Scholars are participating in a Women’s Development Leadership Program, involving two intensive residential leadership courses and access to one-on-one coaching.

Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leaders Program (A2ELP)

A2ELP brings together the next generation of young social entrepreneurs from across Southeast Asia and Australia to build leadership skills and networks for social impact.

During a three-month online program, delegates build knowledge of scalable and sustainable business models, cultural intelligence and innovative start-up methodologies. The program includes opportunities to network with industry, academic and government leaders, and hear from innovators and investors tackling the region’s challenges.

The program includes a one-week visit to Australia to strengthen connections, deepen learning and provide networking opportunities.