The Colombian Embassy in association with the Australian Institute of International Affairs for Western Australia invite you to a special screening of Of Love and Other Demons. This is a free event to be introduced by the Honorary Consul for Colombia, John R Goodlad.  Numbers are stricly limited and registration is essential.   About the film Told through intimate narrative using visual language reminiscent of Renaissance paintings, Of love and Other Demons is based on the Gabriel García Márquez novel of the same name that won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982.  It is a harrowing love story based on a Colombian legend set in the time of slavery and the Inquisition. The central character, Sierva María, is the daughter of aristocrats in colonial Cartagena de Indias and is raised by their African slaves.  When she is 13 years old she wants to know what kisses taste like. But when a rabid dog bites her the bishop declares that she is possessed and entrusts his pupil, Cayetano, with her exorcism. Sierva and Cayetano find themselves seduced by a demon more powerful than faith and reason. To see the trailer click here    

Join us for drinks and festive food as we celebrate another successful year with The Hon Robert French AC to discuss a pressing Christmas question: Should there be, could there be, a law about Santa Claus as a person of international concern? Food is involved so bookings are essential- book early!   Dont forget our Christmas Book Drop! Our Christmas Book Drop is one of our favourite traditions.  To take part, find a book that you think someone else will value and appreciate.  Wrap it up and leave it under our Christmas tree. Be sure to take another book when you leave!      About the speaker: Robert French was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia on 1 September 2008 and retired from that office on 29 January 2017. He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia in science and law. He was admitted in 1972 and practised as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia until 1983 when he went to the Independent Bar. He was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia in November 1986, an office he held until his appointment as Chief Justice on 1 September 2008. From 1994 to 1998 he was the President of the National Native Title Tribunal. In 2010, he was made a Companion in the Order of Australia and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. He is a Founding Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, a member of the American Law Institute, and an Honorary Life Member of the Australasian Law Teachers Association, the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration and the Australian Bar Association. Since August 2016 he has been an Adjunct Professor at the Law School at the University of Western Australia, a Distinguished Honorary Professor at the Australian National University since October 2016 and from 2017 an Adjunct Professor at Monash University Law School. He is a Board member of the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation.

The Australian Institute of International Affairs Young Professionals Network in partnership with Young Australians in International Affairs and Curtin International Relations Society invites you to join us for networking drinks.   Date: Thursday 30 November Time: 5.30pm onwards Location: Public House, 263 Adelaide Terrace, Perth   FREE entry, with complimentary nibbles. Cash bar.

At our November event Alan Bloomfield will present some of his recent work with Kurt Mills in the dynamics of international norms. Their work focused on how African states have resisted the anti-impunity norm and the constitutive norm of the International Criminal Court (ICC). They found that the ICC was struggling to remain relevant and that its constitutive norm was weakening in the face of widespread non-cooperation and defection: Burundi withdrew from the ICC in October 2017 and South Africa and Kenya look set to follow. Alan will also outline an upcoming project that will explore Syrian President Assad’s claim that his campaign to expel Islamic State from the ancient city of Palmyra in April 2016 was undertaken to prevent further damage to the famous World Heritage-listed site, and was, therefore, ‘for humanity’. The implied deference to anti-plunder and anti-desecration norms is questionable: al-Assad’s forces have readily bombed culturally significant sites like Krak de Chevaliers and Aleppo’s Old City.  But, despite not actually being motivated by these important international norms, by ‘playing to the crowd’ al-Assad has nevertheless unwittingly strengthened them. Both cases demonstrate that, while words matter, actions speak louder.  Or, in academic jargon, behavioural compliance has a much greater impact on norm-strength than discursive affirmation.   About the Speaker Alan Bloomfield is a Lecturer in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Western Australia. He researches Australian and Indian foreign policy. His first book, India and the Responsibility to Protect, was published by Ashgate in 2015. He also researches international norms, in particular the Responsibility to Protect or ‘R2P’ norm, as well as norm dynamics theory, and he edited the 2017 Routledge book Norm Antipreneurs and the Politics of Resistance to Global Normative Change. He has also published articles in leading journals including Review of International Studies, Pacific Review, Contemporary Security Policy, Australian Journal of Politics and History, and India Review.  Headline photograph by By © Guillaume Piolle /, CC BY 3.0,

The Australian Institute of International Affairs and the Australia Indonesia Business Council Young Professionals, would like to invite you to join us for a panel discussion exploring how young professionals from all backgrounds can use innovation and entrepreneurialism to make a positive impact in the global community. This event is proudly sponsored by Gilbert + Tobin.   Speakers include: Alicia Curtis - Founder of Alyceum Jeffrey Effendi - Founder of DrawHistory Mark Stickells - Director of Business Development and Innovation at UWA Stephanie Arrowsmith – Co-Founder of Impact Hub Jakarta We hope you can join us. Light refreshments will be served. Seats are limited, so please register below.   When: 6.00pm, Wednesday 15 November 2017 Where: Conference Room 2 Ground Floor Brookfield Tower 2 123 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000    CONTACT AIIA E ypnwa@internationalaffairs.org.au AIBC E jscott@gtlaw.com.au   ABOUT THE SPEAKERS   Alicia Curtis Alicia established her leadership education business, Alyceum as a 19 year old and, 15 years on, is well known for her ability to design and facilitate award winning leadership and board diversity programs, conferences and social change campaigns.  She has a Masters in Business Leadership and is the co-author of the book Difference Makers: A Leader’s Guide to Championing Diversity on Boards. She has been recognised nationally in the Westpac & Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence List in 2014 and as one of Westpac's 200 Businesses of Tomorrow in 2017.  She was also awarded the BPW International, Power to Make a Difference Award for implementing an international personal development program called Keys to Achievement.     Alicia has been a life long innovator and entrepreneur from co-founding her own children’s conference when she was 12 years old to running as an independent candidate for the Federal Senate when she was 21 to establishing one of the first large-scale women’s giving circles in Australia called 100 Women which has fundraised nearly $400,000 and awarded grants to nine projects supporting women and girls in four countries globally.   Jeffrey Effendi  Jeffrey is a social entrepreneur using the power of human-centred stories to deepen empathy and spark positive change in the world. As the founder of DrawHistory, a social impact brand agency, he has helped over 100 purpose-driven initiatives tell their stories by designing social brands and campaigns that rally people and funding to important causes.   In fostering further open conversations, Jeffrey also leads the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community in Perth and advises The Humanitarian Group to bring light to challenges such as the gender gap and global refugee crisis. He was previously UNICEF Australia’s Youth Ambassador, is a Fellow of the HIVE Global Leaders Program, and has been a Guest Lecturer at The University of Western Australia’s MBA Marketing program on Storytelling for Change.   Mark Stickells Mark is the Director of Business Development and Innovation at The University of Western Australia, leading the development and stewardship of university partnerships with industry, the not-for profit sector, governments and communities.   Mark is an experienced executive and company director with more than 20 years’ experience working in joint ventures, R&D and collaborative industry research programs.  He has expertise and passion for energy and resource sector innovation and former roles include Director of UWA’s Energy and Minerals Institute and Chief Executive of the WA Energy Research Alliance.    Mark has extensive national and international industry and innovation networks and is a highly effective communicator with a deep commitment to diversity, inclusion and innovation.  Mark is a Board member or advisor to several UWA ventures and in 2017 was appointed  an adjunct Senior Fellow of the Perth USAsia Centre. Mark is a strong advocate for Perth’s role as a regional energy city and innovation hub.    Stephanie Arrowsmith Stephanie is co-founder of Impact Hub Jakarta, a coworking space and innovation hub for purpose-driven startups in Indonesia’s capital city and founding partner at VSStory, a communications agency focused on crafting and sharing powerful stories of visionary companies. She is also the curator of the first ASEAN Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, fostering collaboration among countries and sectors towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and building a stronger ecosystem of support in Southeast Asia.     Previously with The Global Poverty Project and GlobalCitizen.org Stephanie has a background in international development policy, advocacy and digital platforms for civil society engagement. She also led the growth of global partnerships at StartSomeGood.com - a crowdfunding platform for social change, including helping launch over 150 campaigns and delivering workshops around the region.    As an ecosystem builder and community leader, she has been active in the dialogue around support for social enterprises in the ASEAN region and is passionate about enabling an environment where entrepreneurs can be a catalyst for social change and development. She is currently co-leading regional engagement and program delivery of Frontier Innovators - an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s innovationXchange - a search for innovative businesses in the Asia-Pacific that are delivering impact through their work.   Born in Indonesia and raised in Australia - Stephanie is a global citizen and happiest with her backpack on, exploring new places and turning strangers into friends. Her experience in social entrepreneurship, policy, fundraising and advocacy has taken her to over 35 countries, including living in Australia.  

Norwegian foreign policy priorities in a changing and more unpredictable world. The Australian Institute of International Affairs WA (AIIA WA) will be holding breakfast at the Western Australian Club with H.E. Ms Unni Kløvstad, Ambassador of Norway to Australia, to discuss Norwegian foreign policy priorities in a changing and more unpredictable world and what it means for Australian and Norwegian economic, trade and bilateral relations. Price: $35. A set breakfast will be included in the cost of tickets and seats are strictly limited, so please register with the WA Club directly by calling (08) 9481 7000 or email events@waclub.com.au Norway and Australia Economic, Trade and Bilateral Relations Within the Australian offshore and associated service sectors there are over 40 Norwegian companies, the majority of which are operating out of Perth, essentially comprising Norway’s major footprint in Australia.  In turn, the Norwegian defence industry looks to Australia as a growing and interesting market. The maritime sector has a longstanding tradition in Australia with some Norwegian companies having a more than 100-year history. In 2016 total two-way merchandise trade between Australia and Norway was worth $387 million. Australian exports to Norway were valued at $68 million, predominantly specialised machinery and parts, and alcoholic beverages. Merchandise imports from Norway were valued at $319 million, consisting mainly of fish and fish products, specialised machinery and parts, and measuring and analysing instruments. In 2016, Australia exported $243 million in services to Norway, predominantly transport and education-related travel. In 2016, Australia imported $476 million in services from Norway, predominantly transport and professional services. Australia and Norway cooperate closely in the United Nations and World Trade Organisation, and work together to advance international peace and security, including through our military contributions to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and the Global Coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Norway is an important interlocutor for Australia on Antarctic issues. About the Speaker Her Excellency Ms Unni Kløvstad, Ambassador of Norway to Australia. Unni Kløvstad is a career diplomat who has served in the Norwegian Foreign Service for over two decades. She has extensive multilateral experience serving at Norwegian Missions to the UN, NATO and EU. Most recently, she held the position as Director, Head of Section for Security Policy and North America at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was responsible for NATO cooperation, UN peacekeeping, bilateral relations to the USA and Canada, as well as security sector reform and global security challenges. Prior to 2009, as Minister Counsellor to the Norwegian Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Ms Kløvstad coordinated the mission’s work on the EU’s foreign and security policy, including security and defence policy. She had previously held the position of Second Secretary to the Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN in New York, as well as First Secretary to the Norwegian Mission to NATO in Brussels.

The Australian Institute of International Affairs WA (AIIA WA) will be holding an intimate breakfast at the Western Australian Club with Kyle Wilson, a former intelligence analyst and diplomat. Putin once said that he knew where Australia was but never thought about it. But many Australians have thought about Russia a lot. At this breakfast, Kyle will highlight some of the more intriguing aspects of Russian-Australian relations. Price: $30  A set breakfast will be included in the cost of tickets and seats are strictly limited, so please register with the WA Club directly by calling (08) 9481 7000 or email events@waclub.com.au About The Speaker Kyle Wilson studied modern European languages at the ANU, graduating with a First in Russian in 1976. He studied at the Moscow and Leningrad State Universities (1977-79) and taught briefly at the University of Queensland before joining the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs in 1981. He had postings in Warsaw (1982-84), Moscow (1988-92) and Beijing (1995-2000). He studied Polish in Lublin and Krakow; and Mandarin at the Beijing Institute of Economics and Management. From 2000 to 2003 he headed DFAT’s China Political and Bilateral Section.  From 2003 to 2013 he was seconded to the Office of National Assessments as the Senior Analyst for Russia. He has served as official Russian interpreter for Australian heads of state, prime ministers, federal ministers and state premiers.  Since retiring he has been a Visiting Fellow at the ANU’s Centre for European Studies. At the invitation of its then Director General, Allan Gyngell (now the national President of the AIIA), he designed and completed an Oral History of the Office of National Assessments. His interests embrace all aspects of Russia past and present, with a particular focuses on Russian national myths and the history of Russian thought; Pacific Russia; Sino-Russian relations; and the history of Australian-Russian ties. He publishes commentaries for the Lowy Institute and ASPI.

Vladimir Putin reportedly once told Joe Biden: ‘…we may look like you, but we’re not like you, we’re different.’ Fyodor Tyutchev once said: ‘Russia can’t be understood…’ Igor Guberman countered with: ‘…it’s [expletive] high time we tried!’ Are they right? Does it matter? Why? After postings in Moscow, Warsaw, and Beijing, and a decade as a government analyst, Kyle Wilson, now Visiting Fellow at ANU’s Centre for European Studies, will reflect on his experiences in engaging with the Russians.   About The Speaker Kyle Wilson studied modern European languages at the ANU, graduating with a First in Russian in 1976. He studied at the Moscow and Leningrad State Universities (1977-79) and taught briefly at the University of Queensland before joining the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs in 1981. He had postings in Warsaw (1982-84), Moscow (1988-92) and Beijing (1995-2000). He studied Polish in Lublin and Krakow; and Mandarin at the Beijing Institute of Economics and Management. From 2000 to 2003 he headed DFAT’s China Political and Bilateral Section.  From 2003 to 2013 he was seconded to the Office of National Assessments as the Senior Analyst for Russia. He has served as official Russian interpreter for Australian heads of state, prime ministers, federal ministers and state premiers.  Since retiring he has been a Visiting Fellow at the ANU’s Centre for European Studies. At the invitation of its then Director General, Allan Gyngell (now the national President of the AIIA), he designed and completed an Oral History of the Office of National Assessments. His interests embrace all aspects of Russia past and present, with a particular focuses on Russian national myths and the history of Russian thought; Pacific Russia; Sino-Russian relations; and the history of Australian-Russian ties. He publishes commentaries for the Lowy Institute and ASPI.  

Join us for a discussion with Dr Alix Valenti on how international policies have affected Timor Leste since its first attempt at independence – from Indonesian invasion in 1975 to the controversy of the Timor Gap with Australia.  Dr Alix Valenti is the Editor in Chief of the Naval Forces magazine. She holds a PhD in Development Planning. Her thesis examined the impact of UN transitional administration on the reconstruction of political institutions in East Timor after independence, and how this affected urban development policies and the construction of citizenship. Prior to completing her PhD, Dr Valenti worked as a consultant for the European Commission on migrations issues within the EU. Date: Monday 23 October Time: Registration from 5.45pm for a 6pm start.  Location: Upstairs at Lot 20 Bar, 198-206 William Street Perth (entry via James Street).  Price: $10 for AIIA members, $15 for non members. Includes nibbles. Cash bar.  Bookings and prepayment are essential. Ticket sales will end on Sunday 22 October. Please direct all queries to ypnwa@internationalaffairs.org.au .

A one day conference organised jointly by The Centre for Muslim States and Societies, The University of Western Australia, and The Australian Institute of International Affairs for Western Australia The strategic scenario in Afghanistan and Pakistan is rapidly changing with President Trump’s announcement of a revamped US policy vis-à-vis the region. He has decided to increase the US troop presence in Afghanistan with the aim of ‘not nation-building …[but] killing terrorists’. His declared expectation of allies to do the same could include a request to the Australian Government to commit more troops to Afghanistan. The possibility of Australia returning to a combat role in Afghanistan to counter Taliban resurgence raises a number of questions about the future scenarios in the region. These include: •    What are the main challenges to ensuring Afghanistan’s stability and how could they best be met through regional responses? •    How could Afghanistan and Pakistan work together to meet these challenges? •    What are the likely responses of other regional states to the revised US strategy on Afghanistan, particularly China and India? •    What policy options does Australia have in the region in terms of increasing combat role and/or finding political solutions to the continuing instability in Afghanistan? The one-day Conference on Afghanistan and the Region aims to explore answers to these questions.  Conference to be held under Chatham House rules in order to facilitate discussion. Speakers Include: •    Keynote Speech: HE Mr. Masood Khalid, Ambassador of Pakistan to Peoples’ Republic of China, Beijing. •    Ms. Rachel L. Cooke, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General, Perth •    Professor Amin Saikal, Director, Center for Arab and Islamic Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra •    Emeritus Professor James Trevelyan, School of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, University of Western Australia, Perth. •    Dr Rajat Ganguly, Academic Chair, Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies, Murdoch University, Perth.  •    Dr Leah Farrall, Former Counter Terrorism Intelligence Analyst, Canberra. •    Dr Shanthie Mariet D’Souza, Murdoch University and Founder & President of Mantraya, Perth. •    David Singer, Afghanistan Veteran, and Member of the Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL).  •    Professor Samina Yasmeen, Director, Centre for Muslim States and Societies, University of Western Australia, Perth. •    Professor William Maley Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, Australian National University, Canberra (tbc) Cost: $100 standard; $50 students (To be paid in cash at the venue. Costs include morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea) Registration is required via email to azim.zahir@uwa.edu.au before 4 October 2017. For more information contact: Azim Zahir Research Assistant and PhD Candidate Centre for Muslim States and Societies University of Western Australia azim.zahir@uwa.edu.au M: 0417 800 303  

Join us as Professor Richard Heydarian launches his new book The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt against Elite Democracy This book draws on extensive literature on populism, democracy, and emerging markets as well as interviews with senior government officials, experts, and journalists in the Philippines and beyond. It is the first book to analyze the significance and implications of the rise of Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte within a rapidly changing Asia Pacific region. As China's power in the Pacific grows, nations such as the Philippines that have traditionally been US allies are experiencing political convulsions. Duterte's overt willingness to realign the Philippines away from the US towards China in exchange for infrastructure investment is one of the clearest indicators of what China's rise might look like for the rest the world. Timely, precise, accessible, and fast-paced, this book will be of value to scholars, journalists, policy-makers, and China watchers.   About the author Richard Javad Heydarian is a Manila-based academic. He has taught political science at the Ateneo De Manila and De La Salle Universities in the Philippines, and is a regular contributor to The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). As a leading expert on Philippine and Southeast Asian affairs, he has written for, or been interviewed by Aljazeera English, BBC, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Atlantic, South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asian Review, Straits Times, and other leading publications.  

Globalisation presents many challenges in Papua New Guinea (PNG) where 85% of the population is rural or remote as well as culture bound and illiterate. Although PNG is resource rich, public services are not reaching the people who need them. Effective and transparent service delivery comes from non government organisations and from states with which PNG has bilateral relations.  As much as this is appreciated by the people who receive it, it does not empower them to hold their governments accountable or to reduce their dependence on foreign aid. In this presentation, Emma Tunne Wakpi will make the case that the method of delivery of aid programs needs to be improved to ensure good governance, local ownership, and sustainability, and that clear exit strategies need to be in place.  She will draw on her experience of Australian aid delivery in PNG at a grass roots level, with reference to other countries in Melanesia and the objectives of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.   About the speaker With a focus on rural and remote development and health services, Emma Tunne Wakpi has had fifteen years of experience working in Non Government Development Organisations.  She is currently in the final semester of a Master of Arts in Health Administration, Policy, and Leadership at the Sir Walter Murdoch School of Public Policy and International Affairs.