PERSPECTIVES:ASIA | JIEH-YUNG LO |

Jieh-Yung Lo, Founding Director of the Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership at the Australian National University, made a compelling case for boosting Asian-Australian representation in senior leadership roles within Australian businesses and governments. Speaking at the Perspectives:Asia seminar at QAGoMA on May 13, 2021, Lo emphasised the importance of leveraging the diverse and Asia-capable Asian-Australian communities as a competitive advantage. Despite constituting around 15% of the population, Asian-Australians remain significantly underrepresented in senior leadership positions. Lo underscored the need for sustained investment to unlock the full potential of Asian-Australians in navigating the complexities of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asia Taskforce report, “A Second Chance: How Team Australia can succeed in Asia,” highlights that post-COVID economic recovery for Australia relies on accelerating and diversifying trade with Asia. Amidst rising geopolitical tensions, strategic competition for Asian access, and markets, leveraging Australia’s diverse Asian-Australian communities becomes crucial. These communities, with their diverse skills and knowledge, are a competitive advantage, essential for Australia’s success in Asia, ensuring economic prosperity and a strong regional presence.

Jieh-Yung Lo spoke about the unique advantages Asian-Australians can bring to strengthen Australia’s Asia skills and capabilities and pathways for our businesses and governments to better enable and elevate Asian-Australians to deliver on their full potential in support of Australia’s aspirations to engage, connect and succeed in Asia.

Perspectives:Asia is presented by the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University and the Australian Centre of Asia-Pacific Art (ACAPA) at QAGOMA.

Previous Perspectives:Asia seminars are also available online.

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Images: Joe Ruckli