[TimorLesteStudies] Lowy Institute: 13 May 2009 - Michael G Smith - Australia's "Smart Power"

Thu May 7 12:24:49 EST 2009

Background on Mike Smith:
Michael (Mike) Smith was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Austcare in
December 2002. Austcare is an independent and non-sectarian non-profit
humanitarian aid and development organisation based in Sydney, Australia,
which has worked in more than 30 countries for 40 years. Austcare's
particular focus is on human security and poverty reduction in emergency,
conflict and post-conflict situations - principally, protection,
peacebuilding and sustainable development of displaced people and their host
communities, and those affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Mike was on the Executive Committee of the Australian Council for
International Development in 2003-05.  He is an Adjunct Professor at the Key
Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance at Griffith University; a
Member of the National Consultative Committee on International Security
Issues to the Foreign Minister; a Member of the International Advisory Board
of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National
University; and a Rotarian.   

Previously, Mike served with the Australian Defence Force, retiring in
February 2002 with the rank of Major General. His last assignment was as
Deputy Force Commander for the UN Transitional Adminis-tration in East Timor
(UNTAET).  His book Peacekeeping in East Timor: the Path to Independence
(Lynne Rienner, 2003) and his chapter on "East Timor" in
Twenty-First-Century Peace Operations (William J. Durch (Ed), USIP, 2007)
identifies the lessons for intervention and peacebuilding. 

During his service, General Smith held command appointments from platoon to
brigade level, and he saw service in Cambodia, East Timor, Kashmir and Papua
New Guinea, where he experienced the tragedies caused by poverty and
landmines. In 1998, he was team leader and principal author for the
Australian Army's keystone strategic doctrine The Fundamentals of Land
Warfare. He has published articles on issues of national and human security,
strategy and defence, and peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

Mike was educated at Sydney Boys' High School. He is a graduate of the Royal
Military College Duntroon, the Australian Army Command and Staff College,
and the Australian Defence College. He holds a BA in History from the
University of New South Wales, and an MA in International Relations from the
Australian National University.  He has a Diploma of Management and is a
Member of the Corporate Directors' Association, having completed the Company
Directors Course at the University of New England.

Mike is married to Margaret Bain-Smith, and they have three adult sons.
Mike is a struggling golfer, discerning rugby spectator, and enjoys reading,
music and the theatre.

 From http://www.austcare.org.au/aboutus/our-people/mike-smith-bio.aspx

LOW_WhiteonBlueLogo.gif

Wednesday Lunch at Lowy

Australia's 'Smart Power': the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of
Excellence

Australia's fledgling Asia-Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence was
set up in 2008 by the Rudd Government to develop 'national civil-military
capabilities to prevent, prepare for and respond more effectively to
conflicts and disasters overseas'.  The recent White Paper expresses the
Government's continued resolve to support this key aspect of our foreign
policy responses.

Such a challenging task is dependent on a collaborative approach, and the
nurturing of trusting relationships with government, international partners
and relevant non-government organisations alike. But there are many
different organisations and goals at stake in this arena, and such an
approach is no doubt easier to say than to do.  What then are the challenges
and opportunities facing this new organisation, and what are the rewards for
doing so? 

In the next Wednesday Lunch at Lowy, Michael G. Smith AO, Executive Director
of the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence, will join us to
discuss the way ahead for the Centre, and its purpose and value in today's
world.  The presentation will cover the key people and organisations the
Centre deals with and particularly, how the Centre will seek to work with
international partners and relevant non-government organisations, and some
of the challenges faced in these interactions.

Michael (Mike) Smith is the founding Executive Director of the Asia Pacific
Civil-Military Centre of Excellence. From 2002-2008 he was CEO of Austcare,
an independent non-government aid and development agency that focuses on
human security. Mike formerly served as an Army Officer in the Australian
Defence Force for 34 years, retiring in 2002 as a Major General. He is an
Adjunct Professor at the Key Centre for Ethics, Law, Justice and Governance
at Griffith University and a Member of the International Advisory Board of
the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University.
He also lectures on international security issues at the Centre for
International Security Studies at the University of Sydney, and has
delivered a number of keynote addresses on peace-related issues at
international forums. 

Date:          Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Time:         12:30pm for 12:45pm presentation - 1:45pm
Place:        The Lowy Institute for International Policy 
                  Ground floor, 31 Bligh Street, Sydney 
RSVP:        Before 12:00pm on Monday, 11 May 2009

Please click here to accept or decline this invitation
<http://www.prowessdevelopment.com.au/LowyRSVPWeb/rsvp.aspx?guid=8b87b63e-ed
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