Page 918 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2018
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It was clear that over this weekend the topic of gun control was at the forefront of many US leaders’ minds, and we joined all Australian state and territory leaders, the Prime Minister and the ambassador in offering the Australian example of bipartisanship in the wake of tragedy as a model for the Americans to consider.
I was also joined on the mission by a delegation from the Australian National University, headed by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Leitch. The depth of engagement between the ANU, the ACT government and the Canberra community was evident in the range of joint engagements undertaken in Washington, from the Smithsonian institute to renewable energy and cybersecurity.
Bordering the District of Columbia, the University of Maryland works closely with the US defence community and is recognised for its strength in areas such as engineering and computer science, which are also priorities for the ANU and the ACT. I was fortunate to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Maryland and the Australian National University which strengthens Canberra’s credentials as a leading city for defence and cyber-related industries.
Northrop Grumman, who are a partner with the University of Maryland in the development of cyber capabilities, discussed with our delegation what the company does to promote innovation within the cyber community and outlined its plans to expand its successful cyber schools program into Australia, beginning with a trial here in Canberra. These relationships work to put Canberra at the forefront of emerging policy and capabilities in the field of cybersecurity. Being a leader in this rapidly evolving and growing industry means Canberra is in a position to reap the benefits of investment and jobs growth that this industry will bring.
During the visit to Washington DC I had the opportunity to meet with a number of American national institutions and industry peak bodies, including the American Public Transportation Association, various elements of the Smithsonian institute, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association. Discussions with the American Public Transportation Association, the peak body for public transport organisations, centred on issues associated with the implementation of autonomous vehicle technology and their impacts on public transport and road user safety.
Engagement with the Smithsonian institute, which, while being known for its museums, is also one of the world’s most significant research institutions, presented opportunities for the exchange of knowledge, staff, students and collections between the Australian national institutions and their respective equivalents in the United States. The meeting with the National Air and Space Museum, in partnership with the Australian National University, is likely to lead to future exchanges between these institutions—exchanges that date back to the role of the Smithsonian in the foundation of the Commonwealth Solar Observatory on Mount Stromlo in the early 1900s, through to work looking at collaborating on the future of the new Australian space agency.
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