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The LAFIA experience
Steve Vesperman, Deputy Commissioner, Debt, ATO on his study tour to Vanuatu, PNG and the Solomon Islands.

Register by fax:

Simply fax the completed registration form to 02 6202 4775

Dates

Introductory Strategic Dialogue
10 and 11 June 2010

Overseas study tour
18 July – 6 August 2010

Reporting and evaluation session
23 September 2010

Fees and charges

All fees quoted are GST inclusive
Full fee $30,580

The fee includes academic course content, a program of meetings with high level government, business and community leaders, briefings from senior Australian and other diplomats, official receptions and in-country transport.

Travel, accommodation and allowances are additional costs to be met by sponsoring agencies.

Location

Venue details will be provided with your registration confirmation

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Leading Australia's Future in the Asia-Pacific (LAFIA)

In 2010, two LAFIA programs will be conducted by the Australian Public Service Commission in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and The Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University.

Key senior executive government program

Each year senior executives from the Australian and New Zealand public sector take part in LAFIA program across Asia and the Pacific. More than 270 senior executives have participated in LAFIA, now in its seventeenth year. If you are a member of the APS Senior Executive Band 2, or 3 (or equivalent) the program gives you the context and background for the international dimension of your senior leader responsibilities. Enhance your strategic leadership, build senior executive business and management skills, promote a greater understanding of the region and its significance and establish valuable contacts and networks.

If you are aspiring to elite levels of leadership within the Senior Executive Service you cannot go beyond the unique experiences, challenges and substantial rewards of LAFIA.

LAFIA Asia 2010 (Malaysia and Japan)

If you are a member of the Commonwealth, State or New Zealand public service senior executive (Band 2 or 3, or equivalent) this program gives you the context and background for the international dimension of your senior leader responsibilities.

Enhance your strategic leadership, build senior executive business and management skills, promote a greater understanding of the region and its significance and establish valuable contacts and networks.

Program background

Join a diverse and high profile group of senior executives as part of LAFIA Asia 2010.

LAFIA Asia 2010 analyses Australia’s contemporary engagement with Asia. You will be encouraged as a senior executive to think about the effects of current developments within the region on Australia, your agency and yourself as a leader in government.

The unique and challenging political, economic, strategic and social issues in the Asia region increasingly influence Australia’s directions and policies. Malaysia and Japan have become key economic and policy powerhouses of Asia and LAFIA will provide you with a unique opportunity to better understand the intricacies of these two diverse countries.

LAFIA Asia 2010 takes you on a personally structured study tour of these countries.

Continuing Asian economic success and the remarkable recent growth of Japan and Malaysia make it a compelling time to be part of LAFIA 2010.

LAFIA Asia 2010 allows you to experience contemporary whole of government challenges that face Asia initially through intensive pre-tour diplomatic and academic briefings. Then in Malaysia and Japan you will meet with senior government, business and community leaders, visit key political, commercial and community locations and enjoy stimulating discussions with influential decision-makers.

Key elements of LAFIA Asia 2010

LAFIA is a distinctive contribution to enhancing your performance and leadership skills as a senior member of the Australian and New Zealand public sector. Through a structured and tailored program designed to meet your portfolio needs and wider interests you are afforded a unique opportunity to experience first hand the social economic and political dimensions that charge Asia.

LAFIA Asia 2010 Program features

LAFIA Asia 2010 focuses on Malaysia and Japan.

Malaysia

In the period from independence to the 90s, Malaysia made a successful transition from a commodity-based export economy to one dominated by electronic and electrical manufacturing exports.  Malaysia is Australia’s third largest trading partner in ASEAN and our 11th largest trading partner overall. Two-way goods and services trade in 2008–09 stood at $14.7 billion. Negotiations on a Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commenced in 2005 but show no signs of expedient resolution to date, stymied by Malaysia’s reluctance to remove tariff and non-tariff walls around certain protected industries.

Malaysian PM Najib recently embarked on a bold new attempt to transform its economy to an ‘innovative products, services and knowledge economy’. LAFIA will explore the range of structural, political, social and economic reforms required to lift productivity, efficiency and competitiveness in Malaysia.  Malaysia boasts an urban health system widely considered to be one of the best in Southeast Asia although its rural reach could improve particularly in East Malaysia. Past governments also radically improved educational opportunities and tertiary access but LAFIA will examine why these changes have yet to yield the technological capacity and sophistication that Malaysia desires for transforming its economy. Discover what Malaysia needs to do to reach its oft-stated claim of achieving fully developed nation status by 2020.

On his appointment, PM Najib put forward a bold “1Malaysia” manifesto intended to reconcile racially-charged politics and communal discontent. Recently, tensions surfaced over the use of the word Allah in a Malay translation of the Bible and the government’s seemingly tacit approval of harsh sharia laws have also created disquiet amongst liberal Malaysians. LAFIA will examine whether issues of social equity, opportunity and inclusiveness are being realistically addressed in this multi-ethnic, multi-racial society.  Discover how the Malaysian political scene has been transformed by the recent electoral gains of an unwieldy coalition of religious fundamentalist, Chinese-dominated and secular parties under former deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim and the implications for future political stability and democratic, accountable government in Malaysia.

Japan

Japan rode a post-WWII economic boom to become the second largest economy in the world. Today, Japan is the world’s third largest economy after the United States and China with GDP of USD$4.34 trillion (PPP). Despite government debt amounting to 200% of GDP, Japan remains a major aid donor and one of the world’s largest sources of capital and credit. Japan’s main trading partner is now China followed closely by the USA. Japan was also Australia’s largest trading partner for many years, a position it only surrendered to China in 2009. LAFIA will explore whether ongoing bilateral FTA negotiations have any chance of succeeding against the heavily protected Japanese agricultural sector.

Last year, the DPJ Hatoyama Government stunningly deposed the long-governing LDP and now enjoys a majority in both Houses of the Diet. Whilst the new DPJ Government shares strong views in common with Australia on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the reduction of CO2 emissions, is there a perception in Japan that the Australian Government has become more sino-centric in its approach and is soft-pedalling on bilateral security and defence ties? LAFIA will explore Japanese perceptions of China - its economic ascension, its projection of naval superpower, trading relations, attitudes to WWII atrocities and its implications for Japan’s economic future. Discover also the new political order’s take on strategic affairs vis-à-vis the DPRK, Russia, India, US and Australia.

LAFIA will also examine how news of Australia’s intention to take legal action in the International Court of Justice against Japanese whaling research was actually received and whether these approaches have any real chances of impacting policy or affecting relations overall. LAFIA will also examine the latest policy approaches being considered for dealing with Japan’s ageing demographic trend and its implications for health and pensions funding. The new government has firmly targeted reform of Japan’s entrenched and powerful bureaucracy and LAFIA will explore the bold new public sector reforms and their progress to date. LAFIA will also analyse progress on the long-running postal privatisation, major reforms of Japan’s antiquated criminal justice system and changes in education, health and social services.

Introductory Strategic Dialogue

The Introductory Strategic Dialogue (ISD) is an intensive two day briefing of Australia’s engagement with Asia designed to prepare you for your study tour.

You will hear a diverse range of views focusing on the cultural, social, economic and political perspectives of Asia including key historical events as well as current and topical issues.

The ISD is conducted by the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Economics and Government.

The key to the success of the ISD is the quality of presentations from high profile professionals with long experience in engagement with the Asia region.

Over the two days you will hear from and interact with:

Discussion topics for LAFIA Asia 2010 ISD include:

Study tour highlights

Reporting and evaluation session

The reporting and evaluation session is the opportunity to reflect and share your experiences and those of SES colleagues about LAFIA Asia 2010.

Specifically the session is an assessment of the personal and professional outcomes of LAFIA Asia 2010 through its stated aims of:

The reporting and evaluation session will be in Canberra on 23 September 2010.

The session will be followed by a celebratory LAFIA Asia Alumni dinner.

Cancellation

Any cancellations from the program must be advised in writing.  Written cancellations received by 9 June 2010 will be entitled to a full refund.  Cancellations received after this date will incur full charges.  Substitute participants of the appropriate level will be accepted up to 8 June 2010.

Further information

Closing date for application — Thursday, 20 May 2010. Complete and return the LAFIA Asia 2010 registration form (PDF / MS Word) by facsimile to: 02 6250 4775.

For further information, please contact Brooke Morey on (02) 6202 3783 or email brooke.morey@apsc.gov.au