The Global Foundation

A message from the Secretary

Mr Steve Howard Welcome to The Global Foundation. We are a citizens’ organization with Australian roots, fully sustained by a large and growing private sector membership base. We organise thoughtful and strategic responses to the major questions of our times.

Our rolling program of public policy development connects citizens, corporations, academia, governments and other policy makers throughout Australia and the world, and is called Australia Unlimited. We believe that Australia has considerable but unrealised national and global potential and a significant contribution to make in shaping the future.

Come and join us on our journey, which takes us from Broome to Beijing, from Shepparton to Washington and more…
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Australia Unlimited
2010

Click here to read the Australia Unlimited 2010 strategic agenda

Activities:

The Secretary's address to the Global Think Tank Summit, Beijing

Global Foundation Chairman The Hon Warwick Smith AM and Secretary Mr Steve Howard attended and addressed the China Centre for International Economic Exchange Global Think Tank Summit in Beijing on 3 - 4 July. Attended by Chinese government officials, former heads of state, Nobel laureates and private sector and think tank leaders, the summit addresses the international financial and economic crisis and global economic outlook. The Secretary will deliver a speech to the Summit on the opportunity the global financial crisis presents for a new paradigm of sustainable economic growth that engages developing and developed nations through beefing up the G20 process. Mr Howard argues it is an opportunity for structural change, rather than a time to return to ‘business as usual’.

Click here to view the Secretary's address to the Global Think Tank Summit, Beijing.

Working discussions with Mr Jim Murphy, Executive Director, Markets Group, Department of the Treasury

Global Foundation members met with Mr Jim Murphy, Executive Director, Markets Group, Department of the Treasury for working lunches in both Melbourne and Sydney this month. Guests had the opportunity to hear from and discuss with Mr Murphy and other Treasury officials the short-term challenges of financing Australian enterprise, as a result of the global financial crisis. The working lunches provided an invaluable and informal means to gauge business and community sentiment around this issue and to garner some thoughts about possible solutions and ways forward that will secure and increase business and community confidence.

Dinner with The Hon Marilyn Warren AC, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, The Hon Marilyn Warren AC, joined Global Foundation members and guests for dinner in Melbourne on 27 May to discuss current challenges for the justice system, both in Australia and internationally. As a result of the dinner the Foundation will continue to work with the Chief Justice and other lawyers and academics from amongst our membership, on addressing some of these challenges.

Dinner with Dr David McCormick, Former United States Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs

Global Foundation members and guests met in Sydney on 25 May for dinner with Dr David McCormick, Former United States Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs, hosted by Mr Stephen Fitzgerald, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Goldman Sachs JB Were. Discussion focussed on the global architecture required to support a global economic recovery, including the emerging role for the G20 and ways in which business may be more fundamentally involved in this process, alongside government. The Foundation will continue to be actively involved in promoting Australia’s participation in and engagement with the G20. An article about the importance of the G20 written by Mr McCormick was recently published in The Australian.

Dinner with HE Mr Zhang Junsai, Chinese Ambassador to Australia

The Foundation’s China-Australia Dialogue was relaunched in Sydney on 19 May at a dinner with Chinese Ambassador to Australia, HE Mr Zhang Junsai. Hosted by Mr Don Boyd, Chief Executive Partner, Deacons Lawyers, discussion focused on areas for greater cooperation between China and Australia. The Foundation’s Australia China Network is addressing the opportunities for closer cooperation through a series of upcoming program activities. Click here to see notes from the dinner.

Roundtable on Energy Security and Sustainability with European Commissioner for Energy, Mr Andris Piebalgs

Over 40 Global Foundation members and guests, including colleagues from the European Australian Business Association, met with the European Commissioner for Energy, Mr Andris Piebalgs in Sydney on 18 May. Commissioner Piebalgs outlined Europe’s approach to energy policy at the Roundtable. Key principles of the European approach include reducing dependence on imported energy sources; the introduction of legally enforceable obligations on member states to meet renewable targets; creation of an internal energy market and consideration of all energy options, including nuclear energy, subject to certain conditions. Commissioner Piebalgs welcomed the opportunity for on-going dialogue between the European Union and Australia on energy security and sustainability and said it would be to both parties’ benefit to have a continuing dialogue. A full report of the Roundtable is available here.

Global Foundation Advisory Council reiterates need for integrated
Australian public policy

The Advisory Council of The Global Foundation, led by the Chairman, Lt General John Sanderson, AC met in Sydney on 18 May to discuss progress on the forward agenda that emerged from the Australia Unlimited Roundtable in October last year. Council members affirmed the importance of the role of the Foundation in assisting and working with government to define and develop an integrated public policy across the entire range of portfolios that will enable Australia to withstand the global financial crisis and flourish in the mid to longer term. The wide ranging discussion on issues confronting the nation affirmed the need to build community capacity and a strategic framework that would encourage resilience.

Foundation strengthens Queensland links

The Global Foundation met in Brisbane on 28 April with Professor Michael Keniger, Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Queensland, a recent Global Foundation member organisation; Professor Stewart Gill, Principal of Emmanuel College, University of Queensland hosted the luncheon discussion which also involved representatives from the corporate, education and community sectors. Read More.

Current Global Issues

The Global Foundation lunch with HE Mr Michel Filhol Ambassador of France

Mr Steve Howard & HE Mr Michel Filhol HE Mr Michel Filhol, Ambassador of France was guest of honour at a lunch held in Melbourne on 26 May. Members and guests of the Foundation had the opportunity to hear from and discuss with the Ambassador the upgrading of the Australia-France relationship, in light of the extensive intellectual, cultural and commercial cooperation between the two nations. Several areas for further bilateral and international cooperation and development were identified and are to be explored by the Foundation.

The Global Foundation Mission to China

The Chairman and Secretary of the Foundation are leading a Foundation mission to China from 14 to 19 April inclusive. The comprehensive visit builds many years of strategic engagement by the Foundation with China and the participation of China in the Foundation’s global activities, ranging from regional cooperation to climate change. The delegation will visit Beijing and the Boao Forum for Asia.

The Secretary delivered an opening address in Beijing to the China Business Council on Sustainable Development. These discussions on global sustainability follow the three-party talks on climate change involving China, United States and Australia, organized by The Global Foundation in Washington in September 2008, the report of which may be found here and the China-Australia dialogue on clean energy and the environment organised by the Foundation in Beijing in April 2008, the report of which may be found here.

James D. Wolfensohn meets The Global Foundation; appointed by PM to guide Carbon Capture Institute

Famous Australian and long-standing honorary member of the Foundation, Mr James D Wolfensohn, met with members of the Foundation in Sydney on 6 April. He provided pertinent insights to the global financial crisis and on his own leadership efforts globally in promoting a low carbon economy.

Mr Wolfensohn was visiting Australia to meet with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who announced his appointment as the Chair of the Global Advisory Council for the Carbon Capture Institute, an area of considerable interest to the Foundation over recent times – see here for the PM’s announcement.

The G20 Summit 2009

The communique from the G20 leaders meeting in London on 2 April may be found here