The Australian Institute of International Affairs Queensland is pleased to present the 2017 AIIA Qld Award for achievement in international affairs to leading advocate for increased Australia-Melanesia business links, Frank Yourn.

The AIIA Queensland Award was established in 2016 to recognise notable achievement in international affairs in an activity relating to the AIIA’s objective of promoting interest in and understanding of international issues.

Mr Yourn is executive director of the Australia-Pacific Islands Business Council, the Australia-Fiji Business Council as well as the Australia-PNG Business Council and was nominated for his tireless work fostering the emerging economies of Australia’s nearest neighbours. Before becoming an advocate for business, Mr Yourn spent more than 25 years with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, working across the region.

He said he was honoured by the award and regards it as recognition of Queensland’s important role as gateway to the Melanesian Islands and the many years of support from colleagues and leaders in the field. “It’s a genuine recognition of the contributions of so many people and of the important international affairs mentors I’ve had in the past, such as Richard Woolcott and Richard Smith.”

The Governor of Queensland His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC will present the 2017 award at a reception at Government House on Wednesday 29 November.

“Frank Yourns has been central to the development of Australian business activity across Melanesia,” said AIIA Qld President Geoffrey Ewing.

“In doing so, he has worked closely with all levels of business in Queensland and along the east coast of Australia to keep them up to date on business opportunities and conditions in PNG, Fiji and the Pacific Islands.”

The Australian Institute of International Affairs is an independent, non-profit think tank established in association with Chatham House in 1924. It has branches in all states and territories, except the Northern Territory, and was ranked the top think tank in Southeast Asia and the Pacific in the Global Go To Think Tanks Index for the previous three years.