Dr Bryce Wakefield, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA), has once again contributed to regional policy discussions at the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) Working Group Conference, held this year in Bali, Indonesia.
Convened by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), the conference brings together experts and practitioners from across the Indo-Pacific to develop policy recommendations for the ASEAN Secretariat under the AOIP framework. Dr Wakefield has now participated in the process for three consecutive years.
At this year’s conference, Dr Wakefield again served as co-chair of the Maritime Cooperation Working Group. In this capacity, he helped lead discussions and shape recommendations on key issues including the protection of critical underwater infrastructure and enhancing regional cooperation across existing Indo-Pacific institutional frameworks.
Reflecting on the event, Dr Wakefield noted the growing importance of the forum in fostering practical collaboration across the region. “The AOIP Working Group process continues to provide a valuable platform for bringing together diverse regional perspectives and developing concrete, policy-relevant ideas that support ASEAN centrality,” he said. “The depth and seriousness of discussion this year were particularly impressive.”
The conference program was notably substantive, including a timely special session examining regional reactions to recent developments in Iran, highlighting the interconnected nature of Indo-Pacific and Middle Eastern strategic dynamics.
Although travel commitments from Japan meant Dr Wakefield was unable to attend the opening reception, the conference nonetheless provided valuable opportunities to engage with regional counterparts. He also renewed discussions with Dr Dino Patti Djalal, founder and chairman of FPCI, and members of his team, who continue to play a leading role in advancing inclusive dialogue on Indo-Pacific cooperation.
The continued involvement of AIIA leadership in initiatives such as the AOIP Working Group process reflects the Institute’s commitment to supporting ASEAN-led regional architecture and contributing to informed, cooperative approaches to shared strategic challenges.
