Venue

IN-PERSON: Lecture Theatre 1 (HB1), Hedley Bull Building, ANU, 130 Garran Rd Acton ACT 2601

2026 Philippines Update - Sama-sama: The Philippines with Australia in a Changing World

This year we commemorate 80 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Philippines. The milestone comes at a time when the present and future of both countries are so clearly intertwined through the deepening of defence cooperation and strategic partnership, growing economic interdependence, and by a shared vision of regional peace and prosperity

The ANU Philippines Institute is proud to convene the 2026 Philippine Update conference to celebrate, as well as critically examine, how the Philippines navigates a changing world with Australia. Our programme will be led by a keynote lecture from former Philippine Ambassador to Australia Delia Albert who will offer reflections on the foreign policy agendas of the two countries and provide insights on how we can collectively address our current moment marked by rapid changes and reconfiguration of regional and global power.

The Update will also bring together leading experts from across the academy, government and civil society sectors from the Philippines and Australia. It will facilitate scholarly and policy dialogues to raise awareness on issues that define Australia-Philippine bilateral relations.

Our programme will include interactive sessions consisting of presentations and panel discussions on a range of issues relating to dynastic politics and democracy, the Philippines’ new upper-middle income status, Bangsamoro elections, and ‘Antipodean’ Philippine Studies among others.

Confirmed speakers to be announced.

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