International Politics in the Pacific: Navigating Strategic Competition
Expert panel
6pm-7pm, Wednesday 14 November 2024
National Office
Lecture Theatre 3, Government Buildings Pipitea Campus, Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington 55 Lambton Quay, Wellington
This event marks the launch of a new special report International Politics in the Pacific: Navigating Geostrategic Competition, by Guy Fiti Sinclair. It brings together expert views on how geostrategic competition is affecting the Pacific region and how New Zealand, Pacific countries and regional institutions can respond to this. The discussion will include suggestions on how Aotearoa New Zealand can better engage with the Pacific.
The event features a summary of the report’s findings from Guy Fiti Sinclair and a moderated discussion with some of the foremost experts in international politics in the Pacific.
Attendance is free. Please register in advance.
About the speakers:
Caren Rangi ONZM, MInstD (Event Chair)
Caren Rangi is a proud, Canterbury born, Hawke’s Bay raised, Cook Islander who started her career as a chartered accountant and auditor with the Office of the Auditor-General. She chose a career in governance, combined with facilitation and leadership work, so she can contribute to decision-making in areas for which she has passion. Her current governance roles include Chair of NGO Pacific Homecare and Deputy Chair, Pacific Co-operation Broadcasting Ltd (Pasifika TV). She is also member of the Boards of Massey University, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Agency. In March this year, Caren completed a three year term as the Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand. In 2018, she was conferred with an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance and the Pacific community. Caren is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Member of the Institute of Directors and of the Institute of Director’s Chapter Zero NZ Steering Committee and Pacific Advisory Group.
Associate Professor Guy Fiti Sinclair, University of Auckland
Guy Fiti Sinclair is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean (Pacific) at Auckland Law School, and a Senior Research Fellow of the New Zealand Centre for Public Law (NZCPL). He was previously Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law and Associate Director of NZCPL. Before undertaking his doctoral studies at New York University School of Law, Guy worked for over 10 years as a corporate and commercial lawyer in leading U.S., English and Australasian firms, and in a variety of in-house roles. He also completed an internship with the legal department at the World Bank. His book, To Reform the World: The Legal Powers of International Organizations and the Making of Modern States, was published by Oxford University Press in 2017. His research interests include public international law, international organisations, international economic law, law and development, law and global governance, international law and governance in the Pacific/Oceania, history and theory of international law, law and social theory. He received his JSD from NYU School of Law in 2013.
Associate Professor Anna Powles, Massey University
Associate Professor Anna Powles is with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. She specialises in geopolitical dynamics in the Pacific, Pacific security architecture, security cooperation in the Pacific, conflict and non-state actors in the Pacific, and New Zealand foreign and defence policy. She currently co-leads the Pacific Defence Diplomacy Project https://www.griffith.edu.au/asia-institute/pacific-hub/defence-diplomacy-in-the-pacific. She is a member of The Pacific Dialogue on Geopolitics and Security Steering Committee, a non-resident fellow with the National Bureau for Asian Research and an expert associate of the National Security College at the Australian National University. She sits on the Research and Policy Advisory Group for the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) on private military and security companies. She has previously held fellowships at East West Center and the Australia War College and has been a member of several regional and government advisory groups on defence and national security issues. Before joining academia, she worked in complex humanitarian emergencies and security sector reform with the United Nations, INGOs and the International Crisis Group.
Additional speakers are to be confirmed.
This event marks the launch of a new special report International Politics in the Pacific: Navigating Geostrategic Competition, by Guy Fiti Sinclair. It brings together expert views on how geostrategic competition is affecting the Pacific region and how New Zealand, Pacific countries and regional institutions can respond to this. The discussion will include suggestions on how Aotearoa New Zealand can better engage with the Pacific.
The event features a summary of the report’s findings from Guy Fiti Sinclair and a moderated discussion with some of the foremost experts in international politics in the Pacific.
Attendance is free. Please register in advance.
About the speakers:
Caren Rangi ONZM, MInstD (Event Chair)
Caren Rangi is a proud, Canterbury born, Hawke’s Bay raised, Cook Islander who started her career as a chartered accountant and auditor with the Office of the Auditor-General. She chose a career in governance, combined with facilitation and leadership work, so she can contribute to decision-making in areas for which she has passion. Her current governance roles include Chair of NGO Pacific Homecare and Deputy Chair, Pacific Co-operation Broadcasting Ltd (Pasifika TV). She is also member of the Boards of Massey University, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Economic Development Agency. In March this year, Caren completed a three year term as the Chair of the Arts Council of New Zealand. In 2018, she was conferred with an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to governance and the Pacific community. Caren is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a Member of the Institute of Directors and of the Institute of Director’s Chapter Zero NZ Steering Committee and Pacific Advisory Group.
Associate Professor Guy Fiti Sinclair, University of Auckland
Guy Fiti Sinclair is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean (Pacific) at Auckland Law School, and a Senior Research Fellow of the New Zealand Centre for Public Law (NZCPL). He was previously Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Law and Associate Director of NZCPL. Before undertaking his doctoral studies at New York University School of Law, Guy worked for over 10 years as a corporate and commercial lawyer in leading U.S., English and Australasian firms, and in a variety of in-house roles. He also completed an internship with the legal department at the World Bank. His book, To Reform the World: The Legal Powers of International Organizations and the Making of Modern States, was published by Oxford University Press in 2017. His research interests include public international law, international organisations, international economic law, law and development, law and global governance, international law and governance in the Pacific/Oceania, history and theory of international law, law and social theory. He received his JSD from NYU School of Law in 2013.
Associate Professor Anna Powles, Massey University
Associate Professor Anna Powles is with the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University. She specialises in geopolitical dynamics in the Pacific, Pacific security architecture, security cooperation in the Pacific, conflict and non-state actors in the Pacific, and New Zealand foreign and defence policy. She currently co-leads the Pacific Defence Diplomacy Project https://www.griffith.edu.au/asia-institute/pacific-hub/defence-diplomacy-in-the-pacific. She is a member of The Pacific Dialogue on Geopolitics and Security Steering Committee, a non-resident fellow with the National Bureau for Asian Research and an expert associate of the National Security College at the Australian National University. She sits on the Research and Policy Advisory Group for the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) on private military and security companies. She has previously held fellowships at East West Center and the Australia War College and has been a member of several regional and government advisory groups on defence and national security issues. Before joining academia, she worked in complex humanitarian emergencies and security sector reform with the United Nations, INGOs and the International Crisis Group.
Additional speakers are to be confirmed.
Membership
NZIIA membership is open to anyone interested in understanding the importance of global affairs to the political and economic well-being of New Zealand.