Applications are now open to participate in the inaugural Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue in Melbourne, Australia from 3–6 May 2017.  As the inaugural Dialogue, this is your opportunity to be part of a significant milestone in the Australia–Japan relationship.

The Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue (AJYD) is an independent, non-partisan diplomatic initiative bringing together young Australian and Japanese leaders to advance relations between our two countries.

The Dialogue will host 20 young leaders (10 from Australia and 10 from Japan) aged between 25 and 40 from business, government, politics, civil society, academia, sports, the arts, media, and defence.

Delegates will participate in a three-day expert-led program of roundtables, panel discussions, and Question and Answer forums. The program also includes cultural exchanges and social events which, alongside the academic activities, will afford delegates the opportunity to develop a pool of personal and professional contacts active in the Australia–Japan relationship.

Delegates will be invited to offer their personal and professional views during Dialogue sessions in a constructive environment, under Chatham House rule. Keynote speeches will be delivered my Dialogue participants and special invited guests.

At the conclusion of the Dialogue, delegates will be invited to join the AJYD Alumni Network, which they can draw upon to continue building their professional careers and enhancing bilateral relations overall.

The AJYD is now accepting applications from enthusiastic, young, up-and-coming Australian and Japanese professionals from a wide variety of disciplines. Successful applicants will have all expenses related to the Dialogue covered including travel, accommodation, meals and in-country transport.

Applications close on Friday 27 January 2017, with short-listed applicants invited to participate in a quick, 10-minute telephone interview. Successful applicants will be notified in February 2017 and required to travel between 3 – 6 May 2017.

For further information on the AJYD and the application process, please visit www.ajyd.org.au.