The Indo-Pacific Cooperation Network, a program focused on emerging experts on disaster resilience selected from Indo-Pacific countries, wrapped up its 2024/25 program in March.
The program, organised by the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) and the Japan Foundation, consisted of three main components: a study tour and research sessions in Japan in June 2024, participation in masterclasses and the Australian Institute of International Affairs National Conference in Canberra in November 2024, and a study tour to Fiji and New Zealand in March 2025. Study tours focused on each nation’s disaster resilience measures, with visits to sites affected by disasters and meetings with key figures in government, academia, media and civil society focused on disaster mitigation and response.
The purpose of these activities is to forge an interdisciplinary network of emerging experts that can focus their attention on devising transnational solutions to pressing problems in the region. AIIA National Executive Director Dr Bryce Wakefield believes the group has real momentum. He says: “This is the second year we have run this project, and we’ve managed to pack more into the schedule. It’s great to see relationships forming that will last lifetimes. The shared knowledge and bonds will work to foster policy initiatives in our region.” He thinks the network has real “staying power.”
The activities of the network were covered in major Japanese, Fijian, Dutch and other media outlets. The members of the network gave final research presentations in Wellington, New Zealand and are aiming to publish their work on disaster resilience soon.
Wakefield believes there is ample scope to continue this program, focusing on a different aspect of resilience each year. “There are certainly possibilities around issues such as food security or resilience of justice systems, for example, that could be a focus of cohorts of the network.” He advises potential applicants for future rounds of the program to keep an eye on the AIIA website.
