Principal speaker
The Honourable Tim Watts MP
Since coming to government, the Albanese government has been using all tools of statecraft to maximise Australia's influence across the Indo-Pacific. The Government has stabilised our relationship with China, repaired and strengthened our relationships in the Pacific and Southeast Asia and lifted our engagement with the Indian Ocean region.
All of these efforts are underpinned by our Asia capability; the mix of cultural understanding, language abilities and regional experience that Australians need to be effective in our region. Unfortunately, despite unprecedented need and a series of government reports calling for action, Australia's Asia capability has continued a decades long decline.
The Hon Tim Watts MP, Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, will discuss Australia's engagement in the Indo-Pacific and why the skills and experiences we need to be effective in the region are a vital sovereign capability for ensuring Australia's security and prosperity in an increasingly complex and consequential region.
Tim Watts is the federal Member for Gellibrand in the Australian Federal Parliament and the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs. He is Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee and the House Education Committee. He was the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Albanese Government's first term.
As home to the world's fastest growing economies and a centre of increasing geostrategic contest, the Indian Ocean region is essential to Australia's security and prosperity. As Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Tim's focus is working with our regional partners to maintain the peace, stability and prosperity of the Indian Ocean, to increase our economic, diplomatic and development ties, and to enhance our regional resilience to our security challenges, climate change and natural disasters.
Across a range of Parliamentary roles over more than a decade, Tim has led initiatives in foreign affairs, communications, cybersecurity, international education, sports diplomacy and Asia capability.
Tim holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Bond University, a Master of Public Policy from Monash University and a Master of Science (Politics and Communications) from the London School of Economics.
Prior to entering Parliament he worked as a Senior Manager at Telstra, a lawyer at the corporate law firm, Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King and Wood Mallesons), a senior advisor to former Victorian Premier John Brumby and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Stephen Conroy.
Tim is also the author of two books, "The Golden Country: Australia's Changing Identity" and "Two Futures: Australia at a Critical Moment" (along with co-author and fellow MP, Clare O'Neil).
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