Our mission is to broaden and deepen mutual understanding between Australian and American leaders and enhance the framework for security in a manner that underwrites economic and cultural prosperity for Australian and American citizens. In this way both nations can contribute to the sustainable development of a robust, stable, prosperous and healthy Indo Pacific region.

The Leadership Dialogue was founded in 1992 and continues to operate bilaterally in the spirit of bipartisanship, gender balance, a culture of service and non-careerism, mutual respect and personal courtesy, frank exchanges in closed sessions, commitment to the intergenerational imperative, nurturing cohorts of younger leaders, and predisposition towards lifelong listening and learning. Leadership is about creating new space in the service of others – security, cultural, educational, economic, innovative, intellectual, scientific and policy. We stand at the interface between officialdom, enterprise and civil society.

Phil Scanlan AM, Founder

”Permanence should never be presumed, and partnerships should never be taken for granted. That is why the Australian American Leadership Dialogue is an important and necessary plank in our platform of official and private diplomatic engagement.

THE HONORABLE G. H. W BUSHFORMER PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

”The Leadership Dialogue has woven ideas and friendships together in ways that have influenced national security, trade and business ties. I feel privileged to have learned so much from the extraordinary group of Australians from diverse walks of life. The experience reinforces that special bond of outlook and trust and humour that defines that Australian-American partnership.

THE HON ROBERT ZOELLICKFORMER PRESIDENT, WORLD BANK