Commonwealth Study Conferences (Australia) Incorporated

Founder: HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Australian Chairman: Mr RFE Warburton

ABN 33 055 796 693

GPO Box 2733 Sydney NSW 2001 ~ Ph: 02 4234 1072 ~ Mob: 0418 164 043 ~ E-mail: secretary@cscaustralia.com

OCEANIA CSC ALUMNI NEWSLETTER - MAY 2007

Dear Fellow Alumni,

Welcome to the first 2007 edition of our newsletter. This newsletter aims to provide information on recent CSC conferences/events and forthcoming Alumni activities. It can also be accessed on www.cscaustralia.com with links to additional information where information is underlined.

(1) RECENT CONFERENCES & EVENTS

The Tenth Commonwealth Study Conference 16 - 27 March 2007

The Tenth Commonwealth Study Conference was staged by India and Malaysia, 16 - 29 March 2007. It was a great success and strongly reflected its theme Working Together For Inclusive Growth and Development. More than 180 participants across 30 Commonwealth countries attended. 31 participants represented Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. It was the first time a full international conference has been held outside the organising triangle formed by the UK, Canada and Australia/NZ.

CSC Australia played a major role in providing administrative support and assistance over the past 2 years to the CSC2007 organisers - the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and CSC Malaysia (COSCAM). Dick Warburton AO, Chairman and Brian Pickett, Chief Executive of CSC Australia respectively are to be commended on the contribution they each provided to the organisers in the successful staging of this event.

In addition, special thanks are also extended to the volunteer Alumni members who gave their time and efforts to selection panel activities. In Australia, these panels were co-ordinated nationally by Joan Spiller, Chair-Membership Selection CSC2007.

The Conference Opening and Closing took place in New Delhi. 9 study tours were held in separate regions of India and 3 study tours visited Malaysia. HRH The Duke of Kent provided the Keynote Address at the Opening plenary and HRH The Princess Royal again played an active and outstanding role as commentator during the Closing plenary sessions.

Conference members were also afforded an audience with the President of India, HE Dr A P J Abdul Kalam as well as attending a gala dinner hosted by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms Sheila Dikshit.

CSC2007 Participant Feedback

The Emerging Pacific Leaders' Dialogue (EPLD) 2006

CSC Australia and New Zealand, supported by Alumni and sponsors across the region, organised a CSC style event in the South Pacific from 28 June to 12 July 2006. 120 EPLD places were offered to high calibre men and women from 19 Pacific nations. The ten study tour destinations included Papua New Guinea (2), Fiji (2), Solomon Islands/Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Auckland/Cook Islands and New Caledonia.

Thanks and appreciation for the very successful staging of this inaugural Pacific Conference are extended to Carolyn Bloch, Chair and other volunteer members of the widely representative EPLD Steering Committee as well as to the members of a large number of other EPLD support committees/panels across the Pacific region.

The Brisbane Opening and the Auckland Closing were chaired by former Governors' General - Sir William Deane in Brisbane and Sir Paul Reeves in Auckland. The EPLD Closing was as usual devoted to presentations by each of the study tours with thought provoking and insightful commentaries on each presentation provided by Sir Paul Reeves and HRH The Princess Royal.

Notwithstanding the logistical, transportation and immigration Visa challenges resulting from participants being drawn from 19 separate nations and study tours to 10 separate Pacific Island locations, we are delighted to record that our most optimistic expectations for the EPLD 2006 were well and truly exceeded.

EPLD Alumni Projects

Buckingham Palace Reception, May 2006

Baroness Liz Symons, Vice-Chair, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conference (UK Fund) hosted a Reception at Buckingham Palace on 24 May 2006. In attendance were HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Princess Royal and HRH The Duke of Kent. Twenty Australians from almost all previous Conferences were represented. The highlight of the evening was the official launch of the CSC history book, Leadership In The Making - 50 years of HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conferences conceived and published by CSC Canada with wide-ranging input from participating Commonwealth countries. If you would like more particulars about the 50th Anniversary book, please contact the CSC Canada at www.csc-alumni.org

(2) FUTURE CONFERENCES & EVENTS

The Emerging Pacific Leaders' Dialogue (EPLD) 2009

As a result of the success of EPLD2006, a number of meetings of an EPLD Transitional Organising Committee chaired by Robert Igara, PNG have been held to discuss a second Pacific Conference tentatively scheduled for October 2009.

Two sub-committees have been formed. A Foundation Committee chaired by Bob Lyon of Fiji and an Event Planning Committee chaired by Peter Aitsi of PNG. The Foundation Committee is looking into what sort of financial and legal entity might best be established and the Event Planning Committee has commenced preparing a detailed operational timetable.

An informal briefing on EPLD 2009 was provided to HRH The Princess Royal during her recent time in India. In response to her enthusiasm in attending EPLD2006 a formal invitation from Australia and New Zealand has been extended to HRH to participate in EPLD 2009.

The Eleventh Commonwealth Study Conference

The HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's Commonwealth Study Conference (UK Fund) has recently submitted a proposal to host the Eleventh Commonwealth Study Conference in 2011. As the UK will be in the final year leading to the 2012 Olympics, it was suggested the proposed timing of the next CSC would offer additional interest and opportunities for study tours.

Jamaica, on behalf of a range of Commonwealth Caribbean countries, has also indicated an interest to host CSC2011. Following a considered assessment of detailed organising proposals, it is anticipated that a decision on the host nation(s) for CSC2011 will be taken by the end of 2007.

(3) FORTHCOMING ALUMNI ACTIVITIES

New South Wales

On Monday 18 June 2007, an Alumni Cocktail Party, co-hosted by the Hon. Barrie Unsworth (CSC1974) and The Hon. Milton Morris AO (CSC1956), will be held at Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney. This social event will commence at 6pm and conclude by 8.30 pm approx. A per head charge of $35.00 has been set to offset most of the costs of this function and cheques/money orders can be made payable to Commonwealth Study Conferences (Australia) Inc and forwarded to GPO Box 2733, Sydney, NSW 2001. Direct debit payment options are also available. The RSVP deadline for attendance is by the close of business on Monday 11 June 2007. Further information can be obtained by emailing alumni@cscaustralia.com or by phoning Rilka Macainsh on 0421 919 101. Alumni visiting from interstate or overseas are most welcome to attend.

(4) CONFERENCE PLANNING & FUNDRAISING

EPLD 2009 is the next significant CSC event in this region. Should Alumni members wish to contribute to the planning and organising of this event and/or by making a tax deductible donations to EPLD 2009 please contact secretary@cscaustralia.com (Brian Pickett) or cscnz@paradise.net.nz (Miles Middlemass)

(5) GENERAL - coming soon

CSC Australia-Excecutive Committee Membership

CSC2007 Membership Selection Panel Composition

State/Territory CSC Alumni Co-ordinators - Contact Details

Update your Own Alumni Details, Find Fellow Alumni and contact them if we have emails on record login details will be emailed soon

Alumni Happenings

(6) FEEDBACK

As Alumni, your views are important in ensuring these newsletters and social activities reflect your interests. Please provide any feedback you may have to alumni@cscaustralia.com.