2026 Japan Symposium Dialogue
Commemorating the
50th Anniversary of the NARA Treaty
Date: Thursday, 26 February, 2025
Time: 5:30pm AWST
Location: The University of Western Australia
This symposium is by invitation only to the Perth USAsia Centre network of senior leaders and industry experts.
Let us know if you would like to be considered for our events and networking opportunities.
On 26 February 2026, the Perth USAsia Centre, in partnership with the Consulate-General of Japan in Perth, hosted its ninth annual Japan Symposium. This year’s symposium commemorated the 50th anniversary of the landmark NARA Treaty, an agreement that laid the foundation for the modern Australia-Japan partnership.
In an evening of celebration, attendees explored the history and future of one of Australia’s most critical bilateral relationships. Remarks from Masafumi Ishii, former Ambassador and Managing Director of the Japan Institute of International Affairs Platform, His Excellency Kazuhiro Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Andrew Shearer, Australian Ambassador-designate to Japan, and Clare Pope, Partner at Gilbert + Tobin, underpinned the strength and potential of this partnership, especially in uncertain times.
Over the past five decades, the Australia–Japan relationship has grown into one of the Indo-Pacific’s most dynamic and consequential partnerships, anchored in shared values and a record of achievement across diplomacy, security, trade, and enduring people-to-people ties. Together, Australia and Japan now stand as indispensable partners, shaping a more stable, prosperous, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
This strength is evident in recent milestones, from Japan’s success in securing Australia’s frigate contract – highlighting deepening defence and industrial cooperation – to the long-standing energy partnership that continues to support economic resilience and energy security in Australia and Japan, respectively.
Looking to the next 50 years, there are no two countries more aligned and equipped to face the shifting geopolitical landscape. Australia and Japan’s stalwart cooperation and shared values can help steer the region during times of uncertainty, especially by engaging rising Asian powers and further strengthening the bilateral relationship at every level. Closer to home, there is also opportunity to cooperate in areas such as advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, housing, and educating and engaging the younger generation, who will bear the torch of this relationship in the coming decades.
Together, Australia and Japan can meet this dynamic future head on, equipped with the same ambition and energy that drove the signing of the NARA Treaty, some 50 years ago.
Speakers
HE Ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki
Ambassador SUZUKI Kazuhiro was appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Australia in March 2023. Preceding this assignment, he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Turkey from October 2020 to April 2023.
He began his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan in 1986. During his time in the Foreign Ministry, he has held a variety of positions, including Principal Deputy Director in charge of the Korean Peninsula, and Senior Coordinator in the Foreign Policy Bureau. One of his overseas postings was as a Political Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan in the People’s Republic of China from 2004 to 2007. From August 2007 to October 2013, he served as Director for Japan-U.S. Security Affairs, Director for Embassy and Consulate Management, and Director of Aid Policy and Management for the International Cooperation Bureau. He served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative of Japan to the African Union from December 2013 until September 2016, simultaneously acting as the Co-Chairman of the African Union Partners Group in the diplomatic corps of Addis Ababa.
From September 2016 to January 2018, he served as Minister for Economic Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. From January 2018 to July 2020, he was Assistant Minister/Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He holds a Bachelor of International Relations from the University of Tokyo, a Master in Political Science from Stanford University and Master of International Affairs from Columbia University.
HE Ambassador Andrew Shearer (via video address)
Andrew Shearer is a foreign policy and national security expert with 35 years’ experience across government, including as Director-General of National Intelligence, Cabinet Secretary, and senior adviser to two Australian prime ministers. He has worked closely with Japan throughout his career.
He has also held senior positions at Australia’s embassy in Washington DC, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the office of the Minister for Defence, and the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.
During stints as senior adviser on Asia-Pacific Security at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and as director of studies at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, Mr Shearer’s analysis featured in a range of leading international media outlets, journals and books. He was awarded the US Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the US National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal.
He holds an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.
Masafumi Ishii
Masafumi Ishii was the Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia till December 2020 and retired from Japanese Foreign Service in January 2021, having served there for more than 40 years.
He joined MOFA in 1980 and in Tokyo assumed posts like Director for Policy Planning, Special Assistant to Foreign Minster, Director General for Global Issues and Legal Advisor, while his overseas experience covers Washington DC, where he served twice, London, Belgium and NATO as the Ambassador. He is a former Special Adjunct Professor of Gakushuin University. He is now a Member of Advisory Council of Resona Research Institute and advising some other private companies.
Clare Pope
Clare is a partner at Gilbert + Tobin in the Energy, Resources and Infrastructure group.
She specialises in energy and resources M&A and project development, including renewable energy and energy transition.
Clare has 20 years’ experience advising clients on a range of energy and resources transactions, as well as major project development. Clare advises clients on sale and purchase agreements, farm-ins, joint ventures, Production Sharing Agreements, State Agreements, oil and gas and LNG supply agreements, royalty agreements, project development, power purchase agreements, commercial contracting, infrastructure access and sharing agreements and other resources and infrastructure related documentation.
Clare has particular expertise in relation to energy transition and has advised on the development of a number of renewable energy projects, carbon capture and storage projects, hydrogen projects including green and low carbon projects and ammonia projects, as well as projects that generate carbon credits such as ACCU and PURO credits. Clare also advised on the world’s first carbon neutral condensate cargo from Western Australia’s Pluto Project.
Clare has advised clients in relation to their activities globally, including in Australia, Africa, South East Asia, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Europe and former CIS states. Clare has worked in Perth, London, Tokyo, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Explore more from the Japan Symposium
Japan Symposium
The Perth USAsia Centre, together with the Consul-General of Japan in Perth, hosts the annual Japan Symposium. The event brings together leading experts for a public discussion on issues and opportunities facing Japan and Australia.