Asialink Leaders Program

Asia is the world’s most rapidly evolving region. With fast-growing economies, strategic proximity, and shifting global power dynamics, Australian organisations must be ready to engage and adapt to these transformative changes. 

With 30 years of impact, the Asialink Leaders Program is Australia’s premier program for cultivating Asia-capable leadership, empowering organisations to succeed in the region’s dynamic future. The Asialink Leaders Program provides deep insights, develops practical skills, and cultivates invaluable networks crucial for success.

Through a series of immersions, expert sessions, dialogue and coaching, Leaders have the opportunity to replace uncertainty with confidence, myths with reality, and build a global mindset with Asia at its core.

• Access real-time insights to accelerate your understanding of Asia.
• Engage with and learn from the best and brightest minds on Asia.
• Undertake a practical, guided, Asia-focused workplace project.
• Connect with an influential 1,200+ global alumni network to support your Asia journey.
• Elevate your leadership profile with a verified digital Asia capability credential.
• Expand your Asia-engaged community across geographies and sectors.

Realise your Asia ambitions, unlock your leadership potential, and develop the critical Asia capability needed to navigate complexity, build trust, and pivot quickly to thrive in the region.

Paced for busy senior leaders, delivered across nine months, the program experience includes immersions, expert sessions, dialogue and coaching, through a mix of in-person and virtual modules.

• Three intensive multiday core modules. Explore key themes as a national cohort to navigate the complex and fast-changing Asia region.
• Pod coaching. Shape your Workplace Project together with experts and peers who share your area of focus, including dedicated alumni mentors from the 1,200 strong alumni community.
• Online learning platform. Gain exclusive access to practical resources via an online learning platform.
• Intersessions. Gather in smaller groups to deep dive into Asia capability and expand your local network.
• Workplace project. A practical, Asia-focused project to bring benefits back to your organisation and sector.

Build a deeper and more informed understanding of contemporary Asia and engage on the most critical issues of our time impacting our engagement with the region and future prosperity.

• Why Australia-Asia engagement matters: Understand the context for Australia’s strategic, foreign, economic and trade, industry and innovation agendas.
• Geostrategic shifts: Explore the changing geopolitics and geoeconomics our region and the implications for engagement with Asia.
• Identity, image and influence: Reflect on our collective and individual histories to build sustainable, trusted relationships throughout the region and strengthen our ability to connect, collaborate and influence.
• Sustainable and inclusive growth: Explore the role Australia can play in addressing our most significant global issue, contributing towards the green economy shift and inclusive prosperity in the region.
• Technology, innovation, acceleration: With Asia at the forefront of many of the new technologies that drive growth and enhance daily life, consider how Australia can engage with digital transformation in our region.

Participant profiles

The program provides a unique opportunity to learn from and engage with a diverse group of participants who are leaders in their fields and represent a variety of organisations, industries and functions.

Positions held by recent participants include:

CEO, QANTM Intellectual Property  

Director of International, Melbourne Dental School 

CEO, Australia Japan Business Council of Victoria 

Executive Counsel, Herbert Smith Freehills 

General Manager, Immigration Museum, Museums Victoria 

Director, Asia Business Group, KPMG 

Trade & Investment Commissioner, India, Investment NSW 

Program Director for Diversification – Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange and Australia-India Business Exchange, Austrade 

Senior Trade and Investment Officer, Trade & Investment Queensland (TIQ) 

Principal Agribusiness Development Officer, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries QLD 

International Relations Manager, Football Federation Australia 

Global Lead, Product Strategy, Nufarm Limited

Principal Carbon Offsets and Natural Climate Solutions, BHP 

Founder and Director, Trace Foodsteps and The Gourmet Entertainer 

Investment and Strategic Partnership Director, Jakarta Office, Global Victoria 

Senior Curator, Provenance, National Gallery of Australia 

Academic and International Pathways Lead, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand  

Senior Engagement Lead – Energy and Environment, CSIRO 

Director, Export Finance Australia 

Digital Transformation Manager, QAGOMA 

Offshore & Alliance Partnerships Manager, BUPA 

Senior Policy Advisor – Energy Transition, Chevron 

Academic Lead, Clinical Research Training, University of Melbourne 

Multicultural Affairs Partnership Manager, Brisbane City Council  

Associate Director, Asia Strategy & Impact, RMIT University 

Head of Business Development, NAB Business, National Australia Bank 

International Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Save the Children 

Regional Managing Director: Asia Pacific, Thames & Hudson Australia 

Speaker highlights

The Asialink Leaders Program attracts high calibre speakers with expertise living, working and shaping our engagement with the region, across business, government, diplomacy, people-to-people engagement, Arts, culture and education.

A small selection of recent speakers in our program include:

Watch and listen to what our alumni say about the program.

Are you a leader based in Asia, or in regional and rural Australia, or have access requirements?

The Asialink Leaders Virtual Hub offers an alternate pathway to access the Program. Join the program online, for a facilitated live experience connecting you to peers and experts in the region. Virtual Hub leaders can upgrade for in-person access to the Canberra Summit.

Full-Program, Hybrid delivery

Special early bird: $12,300 +GST
Early bird: $12,900 +GST
Full pricing: $13,300 +GST

Virtual Hub 
Early bird: $5,000 (+GST in Australia)
Full pricing: $5,200 (+GST in Australia)

Virtual hub participants are welcome to attend the Canberra Summit in-person for an additional fee of $2,900 (+GST in Australia)

Please talk to us about organisation discounts for three or more participants
 

We were delighted to be able to offer a number of fellowships to the Asialink Leaders Program, with the support of generous partners.

Please see below for the list of the six fellowships that were provided for the 2026 program:

• Sir Edward Weary Dunlop Asialink Fellowship for two Leaders in the not-for-profit sector.
• ​Asialink Leaders Arts Fellowship for two Leaders in the Arts and Creative Industries.
• Asialink First Nations Fellowship for two Indigenous Leaders based in Australia or Asia.

The aim of the fellowship program is to enable individuals from a diversity of backgrounds and sectors to join the Asialink Leaders Program; Australia’s flagship professional development program on Asia. If you are passionate about shaping the Australia-Asia narrative, and would like to join the Asialink Leaders program on a fellowship, please complete both steps below:

• Read and review the information on the Asialink Leaders Program page. Please visit the Asialink Leaders Fellowship Page for more details here.
• Complete the Leaders Program application form first, noting that you will be applying for the fellowship.
• For the question ‘Are you being sponsored by your workplace organisation?’, select the answer ‘No, I will be applying for one of the Asialink Leaders Program fellowships’.
• Then complete the Fellowship application form.

The program is targeted to established and aspiring leaders representing a variety of organisations, industries and functions.

Enrolment is through a merit-based application process. The application process involves: 

1. Written application - we ask you to submit an online application form to share your experience, interest and ambitions with an Asialink Leaders Program place.

2. Interview - after your application has been reviewed you may be invited to an interview. 

Key Dates:

• Special early bird closes: 31 October 2026
• Early bird closes: 18 December 2026
• Applications close: TBC
• Program commences: March, 2027 (Virtual Hub + In-person)

NOTE: Your submission requires an online Letter of endorsement from your organisation, filled out electronically by your employer acknowledging the time commitment required.

Upon submission of the Asialink Leaders Program online application form, you will be sent a confirmation email with a link to forward to your employer/sponsor to complete an online Asialink Leaders Program 2027 Endorsement Form.

If you are self-funding please simply state that you will self-fund.

Continue to build your Asia capabilities, profile and connections with Asialink Leaders Program Alumni across Australia, the region and the world.

On completion of the Asialink Leaders Program become part of a vibrant global alumni network with more than 1,200 active alumni members who can provide ongoing advice, support and networking opportunities in Australia and the Asia region.

Some of the activities we organise for the Asialink Leaders Program alumni each year include:

• Access to keynote speaker sessions
• Exclusive invitations to our thought leadership launch events
• Showcasing of Leaders Alumni in our socials and e-newsletter Asialink Business
• Exclusive alumni invitations to join components of the Asialink Leaders Program such as Foundation Week launch events and the Canberra Summit Alumni Program

Where is the program run?

The Asialink Leaders Program is run in major cities in Australia, such as Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane, as well as virtually. Each year brings together the cohort in different ways. Programs are run consecutively from April to November. All locations are subject to minimum numbers.

What happens after I submit an application?
An email will be sent to notify you of whether you have been successful in reaching the interview stage. If successful, an interview will be arranged. Following the interviews, successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance into the program by letter.

What does the program cost?

Full-Program, Hybrid delivery 
Special early bird: $12,300 +GST
Early bird: $12,900 +GST
Full pricing: $13,300 +GST

Virtual Hub 
Early bird: $5,000 (+GST in Australia)
Full pricing: $5,200 (+GST in Australia)

Virtual hub participants are welcome to attend the Canberra Summit in-person for an additional fee of $2,900 (+GST in Australia).

Please talk to us about group discounts for three or more participants. 

What opportunities are there for me after the program?
Upon completion of the Asialink Leaders Program you become part of the Asialink network, and are invited to public events, conferences, and given other opportunities to participate in specialist events. In addition, you are welcomed into the Asialink Leaders Program alumni network. This is a diverse, strong and vibrant network of leaders working across the globe.

What type of people are accepted into the Asialink Leaders Program?
Successful applicants are outstanding leaders from a diverse range of sectors including corporate, education, community, media, environment, government, the arts, and many more. Participants generally hold a leadership position within their organisation. Participants come from a range of backgrounds, some with little Asia experience and some with extensive knowledge of the region.

How much time do I need to commit to the program?
Throughout the nine-month program, the in-person cohort meets for a total of 11 days in a mix of face-to-face and virtual sessions. The Virtual Hub meets for 7.5 days in total. Some time is also required outside these contact hours to complete your Workplace Project. 

Who facilitates this program?
As Australia’s National Centre for Asia Capability, supported by the University of Melbourne, Asialink Business is uniquely positioned to convene leading voices who address the challenges and opportunities of contemporary Asia. Asialink Leaders Program facilitators are Asia specialists, experts in cross-cultural communication and global leadership. In addition, Asialink brings in foreign policy, politics, business, arts, the media, and leaders from other sectors and organisations to bring invaluable insights to the Program.

What is a Workplace Project (WPP)?
The purpose of the Workplace Project (WPP) is to give participants the opportunity to explore an issue or problem of interest, within the context of their work and with an Asia focus.  The overarching objectives of the WPP include:

• Extend the reach of the Asialink Leaders Program in promoting Asia capability
• Implement the opportunity to extend and strengthen Asia-related knowledge and networks
• Demonstrate enhanced Asia-capable leadership skills
• Establish a practical workplace project to enhance the Asia-focused strategies of the participant’s workplace

To support participants through their WPP, each Leader will be allocated into a dedicated group for pod coaching throughout the program.

What is group or pod coaching?

As an integral part of the Asialink Leaders Program, you are offered a place in a coaching pod of 6-8 Leaders, created around common areas of interest while maximising diversity of perspectives. The objective of the coaching is to support your thinking on and shaping of your Workplace Project, via a facilitated process, with input from peers, facilitator and alumni.

At the end of the series, you will have been equipped to tell a compelling story of your Workplace Project to key stakeholders in your organisation, which will then have a chance to be ‘road tested’ with a larger group of your Leaders cohort at Graduation in November.

What organisations send their staff to participate in the program?
The Asialink Leaders Program has been supported by Australia's premier organisations, both big and small. Please refer to our section on participant profiles for an overview.

Do I get any formal qualifications from this program?

We acknowledge and recognise the Asia-capability of our Asialink Leaders Program graduates through the Asialink Leaders Program Credly Badge, a verified digital credential that showcases their Asia-capability.

How are participants assessed?
Participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions.

In order to successfully graduate from the Asialink Leaders Program and enter the Alumni network, participants MUST complete the following hurdle requirements:

• Attend a minimum of 80% of all the sessions scheduled - determined by hours of attendance.
• Successfully complete all outcomes and deliverables of the Workplace Project as outlined by Asialink Business.