Andrew Robb AO appointed Chairman of Asialink and Asialink Business
It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of the Hon Andrew Robb AO to the position of Chairman of Asialink and Asialink Business.
Mr Robb will replace current Chairman Sid Myer AM, who will take up a new role as Patron of Asialink, and will continue to serve on the Asialink Business board. The change will be effective from 1 January 2017.
We’re delighted to welcome Mr Robb’s considerable senior experience in Australia-Asia engagement, most recently as Australia’s Federal Minister for Trade and Investment, where he successfully negotiated Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Japan and China (for which he was awarded ‘Policy Maker of the Year’ in 2015), as well as the 12 country Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Singapore.
Mr Robb has had a distinguished career in business and politics where he held positions including Minister for Trade and Investment as well as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Vocational Education, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Climate Change, Chairman of the Coalition Policy Development Committee and Shadow Minister for Finance, Deregulation and Debt Reduction.
In 2003, he received the Office of the Order of Australia for his service to agriculture, politics and the community.
He will be responsible for leading the Asialink and Asialink Business Boards in overseeing the continued development of Asialink and Asialink Business during what will be a critical period, as Australia charts a course through a regional and global environment experiencing significant growth and volatility.
Mr Robb takes over from Sid Myer, who has served as Chairman of Asialink since 2004, and Chairman of Asialink Business since 2013.
As Chairman of Asialink, Sid has been a dedicated advocate for our mission and has helped steer us through perhaps the busiest period of our 26 year history. With Sid’s guidance, we have been able to make a difference to the way Australia engages with Asia, at government, business, education, arts, health and people-to-people levels.
Sid has also guided Asialink Business’ exceptional growth since its establishment just over three years ago, and has played a significant role in helping to define and develop Asia capability among Australia’s workforce.
On behalf of our board members, patrons, advisory council, management and staff we thank Sid for his outstanding leadership and commitment to our organisations and welcome Andrew Robb as incoming Chairman.
Jenny McGregor Mukund Narayanamurti
Group CEO, Asialink CEO, Asialink Business