Australia is recognising the importance and relevance of Southeast Asia, with a DFAT Office of Southeast Asia and a standalone Southeast Asia Economic Strategy in the works.

ODA reflects this region as a priority, with an additional $470m announced in the October 2022 budget for it.

But beyond dollars, there are some very real and practical ways of engaging with Southeast Asia.

Sandra Hamid, who is based in Jakarta, served as the Indonesian country representative to The Asia Foundation. She says that engaging with and promoting civil society is absolutely key. She also points out that Australia can, and should, harness the skills and knowledge of locally-employed staff in its embassies and high commissions in Asia.

Sandra speaks with Rachel in the penultimate episode of Reimagining Development about why Australia has a pivotal role to play in harnessing civil society, particularly in Indonesia.

The private sector is increasingly becoming a player in the development space. Whether through the provision of grants or becoming directly involved in the provision of essential services or investments in sustainability, the private sector has an increasing interest in stepping into a space that has been traditionally occupied by NGOs.

How can for-profits and not-for-profits meet in the middle? Is it always just about the greater good? And how can private or blended finance help us to meet the Sustainable Development Goals?

The Australian Sustainable Finance Insitute (ASFI) was set up to help better align finance with development needs and goals. The institute is headed by Kristy Graham, who spent many years at DFAT, and before that AusAID, working primarily in development finance and climate finance.

In this episode of 'Reimagining Development', Kristy joins Jess and Rachel to discuss how private finance can be leveraged and delivered to meet development goals.

www.asfi.org.au

*ASFI was established in 2021. In the podcast, you'll note that we say 'last year'. That's because this was recorded at the tail end of 2022, so isn't quite correct.

In so many ways, New Zealand is nimble, creative and progressive. For that reason, looking across the ditch for ideas and inspiration is of great benefit to Australia - in this case, in how to redesign a development program that is fit for purpose.

New Zealand underwent a development program review, and its International Cooperation for Effective Sustainable Development policy came into effect in late 2019, which reaffirmed its primary focus as the Pacific.

How did they get there?

One person who was intimately involved in the formulation of the policy was John Capper. Formerly of MFAT - New Zealand's office of foreign affairs and trade - John now works in the private sector, at Martin Jenkins.

In the latest episode of 'Reimagining Development', John tells Rachel and Jess about the restructure and new policy directions, how Maori culture is informing foreign policy and why, when it comes to creating positive workplace culture, it's all about "the vibe".

Papua New Guinea is one of Australia's closest neighbours, and receives one of the largest shares of our development assistance. It is a country that many Australians have had connections with over the decades - but it still feels far away in the experiences of most of us. It's a shame as PNG is a fascinating history, full of incredibly kind, hospitable and deeply resilient people. As a country it has more than its fair share of problems, including issues around governance, COVID, education and literacy, violence against women and corruption.

Maholopa Laveil is an economist and a lecturer in economics at the University of Papua New Guinea, currently in Australia holding the FDC Fellowship at the Lowy Institute.

This episode, Maho joins Rachel and Jess to discuss why he's hopful for the future, how PNG and Australia can most effectively collaborate - and why PNG needs a properly conducted census, for once and for all.

2023 holds enormous potential when it comes to Indigenous relations in Australia. With a referendum looming, there are great hopes that the role and status of Indigenous people and knowledge will be elevated significantly.

Most of the discussion is focusing on how this will happen domestically, but there are moves afoot to incorporate Indigenous culture into the foreign sphere also. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has asserted taht she wants Australia to move towards a First Nations-led foreign policy, and work towards enacting that is underway.

Joe Morrison, CEO of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, has a long background in working in indigenous affairs, and has written extensively on foreign policy. He joins Jess and Rachel to discuss how traditional and cultural perspectives and practices can be used elsewhere, how they can interact with the commercial sector, and just what opportunities exist to boost our indigenous interconnectivity can cross borders and seas.

https://www.ilsc.gov.au

https://www.firesticks.org.au

New government, new policy directions.

Since gaining office, the Albanese Government has signalled that it’s intent on drawing a line and starting afresh. This includes the development space, with not one, but two reviews of policy currently underway, for development and development finance.

The Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Minister Pat Conroy, spoke to Rachel and Jess for the second episode of Reimagining Development. In it, he spells out his vision for how the intenational development program can and should evolve: everything from putting people at the heart of development, to how to work with Pacific partners.

He also drops hints about how he would like to see DFAT better integrate development practice – and it’s a big one!

Tune in for a scintillating listen – one that is in equal parts inspiring and illuminating about our new International Development Minister’s vision for his portfolio.

'Reimagining Development: Conversations on the new development policy' is a joint initiative between Good Will Hunters and the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), Australia's peak body for the international aid and development sector. It is hosted by Rachel Mason Nunn, founder of GWH, and Jessica Mackenzie, Chief Policy Officer at ACFID.

In the first episode of our latest series of Good Will Hunters, the CEO of youth-focused NGO Oaktree, Thenu Herath, tells Jess and Rachel about why young people are special - and need to have special provisions in policy to reflect this. She also tells us about the benefits that young people bring to the table and how Oaktree is working to harness this.

"We need to work with the demographic dividend that we have, and with the youth bulge [in the Asia Pacific region],” said Thenu.

Is that happening? What needs to change to make it happen? Thenu answers these questions and more.

Thenu Herath is the CEO of Oaktree, a non-profit that supports young people champion sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific. Alongside her role at Oaktree, Thenu is also a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum and was named a YAIA Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs in 2022. She has a degree in politics and international studies and is currently completing her Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne.

https://www.oaktree.org

Welcome to the third episode in our three part-series recorded at Ozwater 2022, hosted by Michael Wilson and Rosie Wheen on the ground at the conference, and myself, Rachel Mason Nunn.

These interviews were recorded on Turrbal and Jagera Country. I join with Michael and Rosie in acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land that we record these episodes on. We pay our respects to Turrbal and Jagera elders past, present and emerging.

In this interview you’ll hear from Roch Cheroux, Managing Director of Sydney Water, discussing the SDGs and overcoming our contemporary water challenges; and Brooke O’Donnell, Team Leader, Aboriginal Heritage and Native Title in the Water Corporation, Western Australia, on her introduction to the water sector.

This brings us to the end of our Ozwater journey. We’d love to hear your insights, now. Please let us know your thoughts via social media.


Enjoy the episode,

Rachel

LINKS:

Roch’s Bio: https://www.careers.sydneywater.com.au/t/roch-cheroux

Water Corporation, WA: https://www.watercorporation.com.au

AWP: https://waterpartnership.org.au

WaterAid Australia: https://www.wateraid.org/au/

Welcome to the second in our three part-series recorded at Ozwater 2022, hosted by Michael Wilson and Rosie Wheen on the ground at the conference, and myself, Rachel Mason Nunn.

These interviews were recorded on Turrbal and Jagera Country. I join with Michael and Rosie in acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land that we record these episodes on. We pay our respects to Turrbal and Jagera elders past, present and emerging.

In this interview you’ll hear from Beata Sochacka, PhD researcher at the University of Queensland, discussing the importance of urban water management for liveability; Dr Bek Christensen, Program Director, The Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust, discussing the work of the Trust and the next generation of water leaders; and Kate Maddy, Engagement Lead at Melbourne Metropolitan Urban Water and System Strategy and Lisa Hocking, Policy and Program Manager at Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, on their partnership and work with communities on water management.


We’ll be back tomorrow with the third instalment in our three part series.


Enjoy the episode,

Rachel

LINKS:

Beata Sochacka recent papers: https://acweb.uq.edu.au/profile/231/beata-sochacka

The Peter Cullen Trust team: https://www.petercullentrust.org.au/our-people/

Melbourne Water System Strategy: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/about/strategies-and-reports/melbourne-water-system-strategy

Welcome to the first in our three part-series recorded at Ozwater 2022, hosted by Michael Wilson and Rosie Wheen on the ground at the conference, and myself, Rachel Mason Nunn.

Michael is Group CEO at eWater and Rosie is CEO of WaterAid Australia.

These interviews were recorded on Turrbal and Jagera Country. I join with Michael and Rosie in acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land that we record these episodes on. We pay our respects to Turrbal and Jagera elders past, present and emerging.

In this interview you’ll hear from Dr. Wade Hadwen, Lecturer in Griffith University’s School of Environment and Science, reminding us of the need for an interdisciplinary response to the water crisis. Then you’ll hear from

Corrine Cheeseman, CEO of the Australian Water Association, on the strength of the Australian water sector. Lastly you’ll hear from Katrina Donaghy, CEO of Civic Ledger, on water and blockchain.


We’ll be back tomorrow with the second instalment in our three part series.


Enjoy the episode,

Rachel

LINKS:

Dr Wade Hadwen Bio: https://experts.griffith.edu.au/9756-wade-hadwen

Corrine Cheeseman announced as AWA CEO: https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/workplace/awa-announces-corinne-cheeseman-as-new-ceo

Australian Water Association: https://www.awa.asn.au

Katrina Donaghy Bio: https://civicledger.com/who-we-are/