Melbourne-based winner mixes in high society - Brief Article

Business Asia, May 19, 2000

Best Contribution to Australia-Asia Business Ties

An examination of the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre's events for May demonstrates the diversity of the organisation's efforts to promote regional awareness.

The Asia Society calendar covers publishing (Japanese author Masahiko Shimada), theatre (Noh Theatre's Masumi Hiraga Jackson) and business (Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Australia chief executive officer Steve Harker).

The Melbourne-based group is this year's winner of the Best Contribution to Australia-Asia Business Ties category. It narrowly beat distinguished finalists such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Singapore Australian Business Council.

The Australasian division of the Asia Society, launched by Prime Minister John Howard in 1997, aims to promote a greater awareness in the wider Australian and New Zealand communities of the importance of Asia and a deeper understanding of its different cultures.

The society develops educational and cultural exchanges, programs, seminars and exhibitions to strengthen Asia-Pacific links.

It also has an extensive network of Asia-related contacts throughout the world, with professionals, educators, cultural enthusiasts, policy specialists and students exchanging views and thoughts on Asian arts, business, education and politics.

The Asia Society was founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III to foster understanding between Asians and Americans. Asia House, on East 64th Street in New York City, was the first home of the non-profit, non-political educational institution.

The other finalists in this category were:

* The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong,

* The Research Institute for Asia and Pacific; and

* The Singapore Australian Business Council.