The Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Citation and Medal presentation

Hello everyone,

Thank you Mimi and thank you Martine, Leigh and Peter for your hospitality tonight. The leading centre for creative engagement with Asia, Asialink is an important and cherished component of the University of Melbourne. Asialink’s work transforms the way Australia engages with Asia, making it vital to the prosecution of the University’s international agenda.

Every year, in honour of Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, we come together to celebrate someone who has championed Australia’s relationship with our closest neighbours. Someone who, like Dunlop, worked tirelessly to strengthen and broaden Australia’s engagement and commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

It is an honour of mine to award this year’s medal to the Honourable Julie Bishop for her ground-breaking and innovative contribution to Australian diplomacy, women’s empowerment, and Australia’s integration with the Indo-Pacific.

Anyone who has had the honour of seeing Ms. Bishop work can attest that her passion for the Indo-Pacific region, and her drive to increase Australia’s presence within this region, is remarkable. She has continuously argued that our Indo-Pacific community is the space where we, as Australians, can make the biggest difference.

In Ms. Bishop’s over 20-year political career, she placed the Indo-Pacific focus at the centre of how the government sees Australia in a global landscape. She oversaw the largest expansion of Australia’s overseas diplomatic presence as well as strengthened and concreted Australia’s commitment to a rules-based-order in international politics.

During Ms. Bishop’s time as Foreign Minister, she architected The New Colombo Plan Scholarship and Mobility Grant program.

The New Colombo Plan builds a network of future leaders who have a defined understanding and cultural competency in Indo-Pacific affairs. This ever-growing cohort of young, ambitious ambassadors from Australia, have an insight into the region that is unique to only those who have lived, studied and worked there.

The New Colombo Plan is something that will be instrumental in Australia’s long-lasting engagement in, and ties to, the region.

During her time with DFAT, Ms. Bishop continuously spoke of her unambiguous focus on the Indo-Pacific, particularly regarding economic diplomacy – using Australia’s foreign policy assets such as trade and aid to support the prosperity of the region.

Throughout her time in the role, Ms. Bishop performed admirably during a time of a quickly shifting geo-political landscape. She commendably led the Malaysian Airways flight MH17 operations and transformed DFAT into a powerhouse and driver of foreign policy.

Under her leadership, the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper was developed, which emphasized Australia’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, and laid out a comprehensive framework for foreign policy in the

following decade. This Paper marked a transformation from earlier versions, which had previously left out any mention of women’s rights or women in general.

In one of Ms. Bishop’s strongest legacies, the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, for the first time, stated “Australia’s foreign policy pursues the empowerment of women as a top priority”.

Ms. Bishop has, and continues, to pave a path for women in leadership and politics. The first female Minister for Foreign Affairs, the first female Deputy Leader of the Federal Liberal Party and now the first female Chancellor of the Australian National University – the Hon Julie Bishop is without a doubt an inspiration to those fighting for women’s empowerment.

Ms. Bishop pioneered equality within the foreign policy and diplomacy context in Australia. In 2015, she launched the Women in Leadership Strategy, which investigated why career progression within the department was not equal between the genders. The following year, she launched Australia’s first Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy across foreign policy and development programs.

Similarly, she prioritized women’s empowerment within Australia’s foreign aid program. She regularly spoke and delivered on her desire to use Australia’s political assets to encourage and promote female potential in leadership, support the economic empowerment of women, and address and reduce violence again women in the region.

One of her most notable contribution to women’s empowerment in the region, was her focus on supporting women in Papua New Guinea. She has an obvious love for the country and was able to strengthen the Australian-PNG diplomatic relationship, creating a long-lasting and enduring partnership.

Within Australia’s time at the United Nations Security Council, Ms. Bishop promoted humanitarian response and the protection of civilians during conflicts.

Ms. Bishop also successfully campaigned for Australia to be elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council. This position allowed Australia to listen to our neighbour’s needs as well as advocate for the Indo-Pacific region.

After such a successful and ground-break diplomatic career, Ms. Bishop is now the Chancellor of the Australian National University, where she remains actively engaged in geopolitical and geostrategic developments in the Indo-Pacific.

In her role as Chancellor, Ms. Bishop provides advice and leadership to staff and students, particularly those studying international developments within specialist schools.

Her work as the Kissinger Fellow of the McCain Institute for International Leadership during 2021/22 involved researching and developing policy responses to several issues of importance to the region.

She has also recently joined the global board of advisers to the US-based Council on Foreign Relations.

The empowerment of women and girls in the region remains an area of special interest for Ms. Bishop, which was recognised by the UK Government with her appointment to the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council in 2021.

Ms. Bishop remains in demand as a public speaker and regularly provides commentary and analysis of key issues.

As someone who has been a role model for women around the world; as someone who has used their defined diplomatic skills to enhance and strengthen Australia’s presence within the region; it is undeniable that the Hon Julie Bishop is utterly deserving of this year’s Weary Dunlop Medal.

My deepest congratulations Julie, and here now is previous Asialink Chairman, Sid Myer to present the Medal.