Our message
The Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue (AP4D) creates a new dimension in Australia’s international policy-making by bringing together the development, diplomacy and defence communities.
Our mission: Encouraging better statecraft to maximise Australia’s influence in a difficult, dangerous and complex world.
Our vision: An integrated, ambitious foreign policy which can generate long-term influence and engagement with the region and the world.
Our method: Promote collaboration among development, diplomacy and defence experts and provide a platform for practical, future-facing ideas.
"Maximising our influence means we need to use all the tools we have. Military capability matters… But we need more than that. We need to deploy all aspects of state power – strategic, diplomatic, social, economic… Foreign policy must work with other elements of state power to succeed – in this the whole is greater than the sum of the parts."
Senator The Hon Penny Wong
Minister for Foreign Affairs
"We must marshal and integrate all arms of national power to achieve Australia’s strategic objectives. Australia has done this in rare periods of crisis. But in the future we will need to do so systematically."
The Hon Richard Marles MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence
"The work of AP4D in bringing together the development, diplomacy and defence communities is timely and important. It brings a breadth of knowledge and innovative ideas to the table."
The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Minister for Defence Industry
"The Asia‑Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue is a valuable contribution at a time of rapid change."
Senator The Hon Marise Payne
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs
"Development assistance builds livelihoods and is a multiplier of peace, security and cooperation. Australia needs strong relationships with our neighbours in an uncertain strategic environment."
Marc Purcell
CEO, Australian Council for International Development
"Our strategic circumstances demand we overcome foreign policy silos. AP4D is the platform for integrated debate, fresh ideas, and the merging of interests between development, diplomacy and defence communities."
Bridi Rice
CEO, Development Intelligence Lab
"Australia’s capacity to shape the world by persuading others will determine how effectively we can deal with the unparalleled international challenges ahead. That requires us to coordinate all our national assets in new ways. AP4D is a model for what needs to be done."