Institute’s Historic Launch: The Institute for Australia India Engagement

The Institute for Australia India Engagement, based in Brisbane was launched with a great fanfare on 4th September, heralding a watershed in Australia-India bilateral relations. The audience was completely mesmerized by the reverberations caused by the Australian and Indian national anthems, and later by the cultural performance by a Punjabi cultural troupe. The lighting of the lamp of knowledge by the dignitaries added a fine cultural touch to the proceedings and lit up the entire atmosphere and spirit of the guests attending the ceremony.

IAIE ushers in a new phase in bilateral and multilateral engagements and will initiate an alternative intellectual discourse to shape strategic thinking in Australia, India and the region. The high-profile launch has cast an impressive impact, reiterating the commitment of IAIE’s CEO and Executive Director Dr Ashutosh Misra and his team for complementing the Australia-India Strategic Partnership in defence, policing, security, education, training, energy and sports fields. IAIE will initiate and lead bilateral, regional and global engagements with academic, government, corporate and law enforcement stakeholders in the above fields.

The launch panel included His Excellency Dr A.M. Gondane High Commissioner of India, Mr Ross Vasta Federal Member of Parliament, Queensland Police Commissioner Mr Ian Stewart, Mr Matthew Hayden Cricketer, Professor Ian Hall, Mr Bernard Malik President of IAIE and Dr Ashutosh Misra, IAIE CEO.

In the absence of Dr Gondane, who got delayed in official meetings, Mrs Archana Singh, Honorary Counsel cut the inaugural ribbon and unveiled the plaque in the presence of Mr Ross Vasta, Mr Stewart, Mr Hayden, Mr Jim Varghese, Mr Muthuraj and Mr Randeep Agarwal (members of the board), Mrs Amy Illidge one of the ASIC directors, Dr Malik, Dr Misra and other guests. Dr Gondane joined the proceedings a little later.

HE Dr Gondane delivered a motivating and inspiring speech and that he is passionately involved in supporting this Institute and wished the Institute to become one of the top think-tanks in the region. He said that the Institute has a huge role in bringing the idea of India to the Australia and share those success stories and opportunities that are reported from the far flung parts of India, and ignored overseas. He highlighted the need for understanding how inspite of India’s complex yet vibrant socio-political order, the representatives of the marginalised communities such as Mr K R Narayanan and Mr Ramnath Kovind have becomes President of the Republic. He Congratulated Dr Misra and his team for their vision and dedication in bringing this Institute to fruition.

Mr Matthew Hayden was also declared IAIE’s Good will Ambassador for India on the occasion. he was delighted to become the Goodwill ambassador and reiterated his commitment to build bilateral engagements, especially in sports diplomacy and sports integrity with India. Hi noted his love and respect for India, explaining why he has made it its spiritual home.

Mr Ross Vasta MP emphasised the rise of India in global affairs and the role of IAIE in building Australia’s ties with India. He noted the relevance of the Institute at a critical juncture in bilateral relations and rendered his full support to its future engagements.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart emphasised the on-going cooperation with India’s law enforcement agencies, especially the delivery of Mid-Career Training Program to IPS officers. He thanked Dr Misra for building the bridge of cooperation between Australia and India and also praised the role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening the multicultural ethos of Australia.

Professor Ian Hall, who was also the Master of Ceremony and is a member for the IAIE board, shared everyone’s view that this Institute is nothing short of a watershed and expressed his excitement for promoting future policy dialogue, research engagements and capacity building programs.

Dr Bernard Malik from his lobbying experience at the White House in the United States with regard to the Indo-US nuclear deal noted that IAIE has a huge role to play on critical issues and shaping future of bilateral ties. He pledged his support for the Institute and thanked the dignitaries for their invaluable support.

Dr Ashutosh Misra was extremely pleased with the launch and the support extended by the launch dignitaries, specially HE Dr A M Gondane. He thanked the Government of India for its support in bringing the Institute into existence and said that IAIE will ensure policy and engagement continuum on various issues, which has in the past fallen prey to institutional adhocism at Australian institutions. He categorically thanked Mr Ross Vasta MP, Police Commissioner Mr Ian Stewart, Mr Matthew Hayden AM and other guests for their presence and support.

Dr Misra shared that the Institute has received messages of support from the former Prime Minister Mr Malcolm Turnbull, Leader of the Opposition Mr Bill Shorten, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, Mr Mark Robinson, Mr Milton Dick, Ms Jess Pugh and Ms Terri Butler (all Members of Parliament). Besides, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mr Andrew Colvin also sent his good wishes for the launch, he said.

Senior executives from Trade and Investment Queensland, Lord Mayor’s Office, Australia India Business Council, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade, KPMG, Boeing, KWM Law firms, PWC, and faculty members from the Griffith university, University of Queensland, Charles Sturt University, Queensland University of Technology, and influential members of Federation of the Indian Community in Queensland attended the launch.

Deputy CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland Ms Marcia Hoffman, Austrade State Director Janelle Casey, Mr Jim Varghese, Vice National Chair Australia India Business Council and Mr Samir Vora, COO and Executive Director Adani Mining attended the launch. IAIE has already been designated a key stakeholder in developing Queensland business strategy for India.

From overseas, Mr Dale Sheehan, member IAIE International Panel of Advisors and former Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner RCMP and former Interpol Director of Police Training travelled from Canada to attend the launch. Dr Misra signed two MoUs on the occasion with the Canadian Centre of Excellence in Anti Corruption and the International Centre for Sport Security, Qatar, represented by Mr Sheehan, that would facilitate capacity building training and joint research in India, and Australia and internationally, in sport corruption, sports integrity and sports and extremism. Another Professor To-Hai Liou from the National Chengchi University in Taipei also flew in to attend the launch as a member of the IAIE International Panel of Advisors.