Lowy Institute

Interpreter Founding Editor Sam Roggeveen talks to former Financial Times China bureau chief Richard McGregor on Xi’s record as China’s leader, his reputation both at home and abroad, and how much control he really exercises over foreign policy decision-makingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the problems of fragile and conflict-affected states increasingly impossible to ignore, the international community has learned from bitter experience that our interventions need to be well calibrated to the political and tribal dynamics on the ground to have any chance of succeeding. On 22 September Lowy Institute Deputy Director Anthony Bubalo hosted Fred Smith for a captivating conversation focusing on reflections from Fred’s two years working as a diplomat and political officer on the frontline of Australia’s mission in Afghanistan, recently distilled into his fascinating memoir, The Dust of Uruzgan.In his 20-year career at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Fred Smith has developed a specialisation in fragile and conflict-affected states, and carved out an unusual niche. His work as a peace monitor, radio broadcaster and musician following the Bougainville crisis is the subject of the documentary, Bougainville Sky. Fred served for two years as a diplomat in southern Afghanistan, working alongside Australian soldiers in Uruzgan Province. Working on the Multinational Base in Tarin Kowt, as well as from a forward Operating Base in the Chora Valley, Fred’s second career as a musician came to the fore. His guitar served as a bridge, not only to the troops, but also to the people and tribal leaders of that war-torn region.His acclaimed album Dust of Uruzgan earned him comparisons to the great Australian songwriters Eric Bogle, John Schumann and Don Walker. The title track was recorded by Lee Kernaghan on his bestselling Spirit of the ANZACs album. Fred has also written a book – The Dust of Uruzgan – the first comprehensive on-the-ground account of Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan. He is currently a Senior Policy Officer in the Civil Military and Stabilisation Policy Section of DFAT’s Humanitarian Division.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lowy Institute Research Fellow Aaron Connelly sat down with ANU's Eve Warburton to discuss Jokowi's consolidation of power, how Jokowi's style differs from SBY, what's on Jokowi's policy agenda, and resource nationalism in Indonesia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lowy Institute Nonresident Fellow Stephen Grenville speaks to Dr M Chatib Basri (former Indonesian finance minister and Thee Kian Wie distinguished visiting professor at the Australian National University), on the role of economics in Indonesian politics over the years, being humbled by political reality, where Jokowi is turning to for advice on economics, how the international economy is affecting Indonesia, and the problems with the nation's budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Interpreter's Managing Editor Emma Connors talks to Lowy Institute Research Fellow Rodger Shanahan on the threat of foreign fighters leaving Iraq and Syria as Islamic State continues to weaken.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“A Trump presidency could open the way for China’s strategic dominance in Asia and elsewhere”, David Ignatius wrote recently in his Washington Post column. Ignatius, one of America’s most distinguished foreign-policy writers, is coming to Melbourne to discuss the upcoming presidential poll, and what it means for America’s place in Asia and the world. On 22 August the Lowy Institute hosted an address from David at the National Gallery of Victoria on Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and America’s direction under a new president.David Ignatius is the Lowy Institute’s 2016 Telstra Distinguished International Fellow. David writes a foreign affairs column for the Washington Post and is one of America’s most respected foreign-policy commentators. David has also written eight spy novels. He joined The Post in 1986 and in 1990 he became foreign editor. He began writing his column in 1998 and continued even during a three-year stint as executive editor of the International Herald Tribune in Paris. David has received multiple honours for his writing and journalism, including the Gerald Loeb Award for Commentary, Legion of Honor from the French Republic, the Urbino World Press Award from the Italian Republic, and a lifetime achievement award from the International Committee for Foreign Journalism. Previous Lowy Institute Distinguished International Fellows were Kurt Campbell, Stephen Hadley and Ambassador Shyam Saran.The Lowy Institute would like to thank its sponsor, Telstra.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 16 August, the Lowy Institute hosted David Ignatius, Washington Post columnist and 2016 Telstra Distinguished International Fellow, for an address on the decay of the Middle East, the rise of a more assertive China, and America’s response to these challenges under a new president.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 11 August, at the 2016 Lowy Institute Media Awards dinner, the keynote address was delivered by Michelle Guthrie, managing director of the ABC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 10 August the Lowy Institute hosted an address from James Cockayne, a strategist, international lawyer and writer. A visiting lecturer at Columbia University, a Hauser scholar at New York University School of Law, and a University Medallist in government and public administration at the University of Sydney, Dr. Cockayne has worked in public service, academia and the advocacy arena. He was Co-Director of the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation, leading their work in New York and Africa. Earlier, Dr. Cockayne served as Principal Legal Officer in the Transnational Crime and Extradition Units in the Australian Attorney-General’s Department; as Chair of the Editorial Committee of the Journal of International Criminal Justice; and also as a civil society member of the multistakeholder group that established an oversight mechanism for the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers.Dr. Cockayne has at various times been a consultant and adviser to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the World Bank, the Center on Humanitarian Dialogue, International Alert, the Norwegian Peacebuilding Forum, the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum, and the Global Leadership Forum.His books include Hidden Power: The Strategic Logic of Organized Crime (Hurst, forthcoming 2016); Peace Operations and Organized Crime: Enemies or Allies? (Routledge, 2011), edited with Adam Lupel; and Beyond Market Forces: Regulating the Global Security Industry (IPI, 2009).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney became the world’s infrastructure capital in 2014 with the establishment of the Global Infrastructure Hub by the G20. On 4 August, the Lowy Institute hosted Global Infrastructure Hub CEO Chris Heathcote in conversation with G20 Studies Centre Project Director Tristram Sainsbury. Heathcote and Sainsbury discussed the Hub’s work to unlock an additional $2 trillion in global infrastructure capacity to 2030. Chris Heathcote was appointed CEO of the Global Infrastructure Hub in June 2015. He has extensive international experience with large infrastructure projects. Previously, Chris was a Director of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets in the United Kingdom. His additional, recent, private sector experience includes positions held with WestLB AG and Lloyds Banking Group. During his time with these companies, Chris was involved in infrastructure projects in the United States, Europe, Turkey, China, the Ivory Coast and Australia.Chris also served as head of project finance at Partnerships UK (a joint UK Treasury and privately-owned company, which promoted the Private Finance Initiative and Public Private Partnerships (PPP)), with a focus on major infrastructure projects including the Wembley National Stadium and London Underground. He has also advised the Brazilian Government on preparing and executing a PPP program, and co-authored of the UK Government White Paper “Meeting the Investment Challenge” while working in the UK Treasury. Chris also structured major road projects in Israel and South Africa.Chris was also a founding partner of Hyder Infrastructure Investors in the mid-1990s, one of the early infrastructure equity funds. The fund was involved in financing of projects including Melbourne City Link, the Asian Infrastructure Fund and many United Kingdom public infrastructure projects funded with private capital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.