Congratulations to the 2021 Asialink Leaders Program Fellows
First Nations Fellowship
(26 April, 2021) Congratulations to Mr Brenton Garlick, Manager, Engagement and Development in the Strategic Engagement Branch, Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
Established in 2020, the First Nations Fellowship recognises the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders cultures in Australia, home to the oldest continuous cultures on earth. Indigenous cultures can provide an important bridge and strengthen connections between Australia and the Indo-Pacific region.
Open to Indigenous Australians from all sectors, the Fellowship is awarded to an outstanding applicant with abilities and ambitions related to Asia engagement. It aims to:
- Illuminate and connect the capability and knowledge of First Nations leaders towards Asia engagement
- Ensure insights and perspectives of Indigenous leaders are reflected and elevated in understandings of national identity and engagement with Asia
- Enhance connections and sharing between Indigenous communities and cultures in Australia and cultures in Asia
- Recognise the strong historical and cultural connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia and cultures in the Indo-Pacific
Brenton, a proud Kamilaroi man, brings extensive experience in government and policy, at both state and federal levels. He will utilise the Fellowship to inform and further his work in international engagement, trade and investment for the Northern Territory Government. He is looking to explore the synergies and tensions of foreign policy objectives of Asian nations in relation to Australia’s foreign policy objective, and how to navigate these in Asia engagement.
The Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asialink Fellowships
The Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asialink Fellowships are awarded to two individuals from the not-for-profit sector who will join emerging and established leaders on the Asialink Leaders Program.
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Ernest Edward "Weary" Dunlop, AC, CMG, OBE (12 July 1907 – 2 July 1993) was an Australian surgeon who was renowned for his leadership in Australia-Asia relations. In 1993, a Dunlop Trust was established as a perpetual fund or trust with its activities occurring on an on-going basis as a memorial to Sir Edward Dunlop's vision for fostering meaningful and constructive engagement between Australia and Asia.
There are synergies between the Dunlop Fellowships and the Asialink Leaders Program as both aim to improve Asia-Australia relations through a rich personal and professional development opportunity for outstanding Australian leaders who have been selected through a rigorous application process.
Congratulations to the two 2021 Asialink Leaders Program Dunlop Fellowship recipients, Melita Grant, Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures – UTS, and Melissa Lee DeLaney, Chief Executive Officer of ANAT (Australian Network for Art & Technology).
Melita intends to explore ethical research partnerships in the Asia Pacific region, gender equality and inclusion synergies in development programs.
Melissa plans to extend and strengthen Asia-related knowledge and networks, to connect artists, scientists, business, and communities across the Indo-Pacific.
Asialink looks forward to welcoming the Fellows into the Leaders Program this year.
Find out more about the fellowships here.