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. 

Australia’s future with Asia will be shaped by leaders with practical experience, deep regional understanding, and strong networks across the region. For 30 years, the Asialink Leaders Program has helped cultivate this Asia-capable leadership, equipping individuals and organisations with the insights, practical skills, and connections needed to succeed in Asia’s dynamic future.

As we mark the program’s 30th anniversary, we celebrate the positive, pioneering, and powerful impact of our alumni and the enduring role of Australia’s premier Asia-capable leadership program in strengthening engagement with the region.

In the video below, Leaders alumni share their perspectives on the opportunities that can be unlocked through engagement with Asia and why Asia capability is important.

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 1,300+ 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 1,300 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:

Director, Trade and Investment, Business Council of Australia

Principal for Public Policy and Government Relations, BHP

Senior Manager, Trade and Investment, Victorian Government

Head International, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Director, Global Client Solutions, IFM Investors

Senior Director, Office of Asia Relations, NT Government

Director, Global Engagement, Museums Victoria

Associate Director, Priority Markets, Investment NSW

Head of Strategy & Capability, DFAT

Investment Director, China, Trade and Investment Queensland

Head of People Operations, Asia and Australia, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

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.

The Asialink Leaders Alumni community spans the globe, with 1,300 professionals an impact on Australia-Asia relationships across sectors. Head to our Leaders 30 page to meet 15 alumni.

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, and a parallel journey that intersects with the in-person 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 and will have an in-region special event.

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 are delighted to be able to offer a number of fellowships to the Asialink Leaders Program, with the support of generous partners. These will be launched in January 2027. Fellowship applicants are welcome to complete the Program application first ahead of fellowships being announced, and may be invited then to complete the fellowship application. 

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 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 and therefore do not need an employer to endorse your application, you can simply state that you will self-fund and this requirement will be voided.

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 1,300 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 exclusive Asialink Leaders Alumni events
• Special invitations to our thought leadership launch events
• Showcasing of Leaders Alumni in our socials and e-newsletter Asialink Business
• Alumni invitations to join components of the Asialink Leaders Program such as Foundation Week launch events and the Canberra Summit Alumni Program