Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong has announced Ms Swati Dave as the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board to the Centre for Australia-India Relations (CAIR).
CAIR will open this year and serve as a national platform to further strengthen our relationship with India.
Ms Dave has more than 30 years’ of experience in finance and banking across a range of sectors in both domestic and international markets.
Ms Dave said in a statement:
“I feel deeply honoured to be appointed as the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board to the new Centre. We are at a pivotal moment in our engagement and relationship with India and it’s time to pursue the opportunities before us. I’m excited about positioning the Centre to drive a broader and deeper level of co-operation between the two countries.”
Ms Dave is currently serves as Deputy Chair of Asia Society Australia and as a member of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations’ Advisory Board. She is also an Investment Committee member for QIC Global Infrastructure.
Senator Wong said in a statement:
“I am very pleased to announce the appoint of Ms Swati Dave as inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board to the Centre for Australia-India Relations. Ms Dave brings valuable strategic, leadership and business experience to the role from her extensive senior executive and non-executive director roles across the public and private sector.”
Experts believe that CAIR will further promote stronger business ties and cultural understanding between Australia and India.
Senator Wong added:
“Australia’s partnership with India is a critical part of shaping the region want: prosperous, stable, secure and respectful of sovereignty.”
Ms Dave was most recently Managing Director and CEO of Export Finance Australia, and has held senior positions at National Australia Bank, Deutsche Bank, AMP Henderson Global Investors, Bankers Trust and Westpac.
Ms Dave added:
“The creation of this national platform will enable us to build upon the significant work being done across government, business, and communities to lift Australia-India business literacy and links, promote greater policy and business dialogue, engage our valuable Indian diaspora, and deepen cultural understanding. I look forward to working with the Advisory Board, the Centre and the Foreign and Trade Ministers on this important new initiative.”
Last year, the Morrison government announced the establishment of a new Centre for Australia-India Relations to help foster new ties and support our expanding exchange and cooperation with India, including by engaging Australia’s rich Indian diaspora community.
With then-estimated funding of $28.1 million dollars, the Centre will focus on four key areas of work:
- promoting policy dialogue
- building Australian business literacy and links
- engaging Australia’s Indian diaspora communities to support the Australia-India bilateral relationship, and
- deepening cultural connections and understanding.
The Centre will also administer the $20.8 million Maitri (friendship) scholars, fellowship programs and cultural partnership, which I announced on 14 February.
The Centre will complement existing institutions such as the Australia India Council (AIC) and the Australia India Institute (AII) to function as a centre of gravity for the bilateral relationship.
