Picture - CNRT leader Xanana Gusmão after casting his vote on Saturday. Antonio Dasiparu/EPA This week I have spent the week in Dili, Timor-Leste as an observer of their elections. From my perspective, and what I heard from other observer teams was that the election was conducted in a peaceful and fair manner. There was quite a [...]
In late April 2018, I participated, in my capacity as Vice President of CACCI (Confederation of Asia Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry) as part of a 13 person delegation of CACCI officers and members to the countries of Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos. The intention of the visit was to explore the possibility of [...]
At the recent launch of the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness, it was a huge honour to have a video message delivered by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The words have been shared on the United Nations Secretary General’s website here. We have also reproduced the words to share with you here. “It was [...]
It has been a big day for the East Timor Hearts Fund #mendingbrokenhearts with the publication by the Medical Journal of Australia of a landmark rheumatic heart disease prevalence study that they coordinated with their partners. Unfortunately, the results are not great for our friends in Timor-Leste. Results show that they are enduring amongst [...]
My latest trip to Timor-Leste was a busy and interesting trip, with a focus on the totally inspiring work that is being undertaken by East Timor Hearts Fund. I had the opportunity to meet with the team that drives the charity as well as doctors, medical staff, patients, families and communities of those affected [...]
I am currently en route to Timor Leste to meet and support the great people who have championed a life-saving initiative for many young Timor-Leste people Operation GoodHearts, organised by the charity East Timor Hearts Fund. Last week was a remarkable week for the East Timor Hearts Fund. This charity organises life-saving heart surgery for Timor-Leste's [...]
Over years I have had a lot to do with the wonderful country of Timor Leste. A very productive part of my involvement has been assisting their Timor Leste Chamber of Commerce to identify and ultimately create sustainable industries. Tourism has been identified as potentially a big industry for Timor Leste, particularly because it [...]
Australia is the proud winner of the 13th ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition that was held from the 2 – 7 February 2018 in Paris. Since 2015 I have enjoyed being on the judging panel for this vibrant competition, but this year my timetable made it difficult for me to be in Paris that [...]
As Vice President, I attended the most recent Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) meeting that was held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nepal is an interesting country. Geographically located between the two continents of China and India, they are uniquely placed for an improving economic position as their neighbours global standing improves. It [...]
Dublin, Ireland really has positioned itself well to attract some impressive innovation hubs, two of which we were recently lucky enough to visit. The first of these was the Science Gallery Dublin. In their own words this is “a world first — a venue where today's white-hot scientific issues are thrashed out and you [...]
