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Annex F - Achieving ASPI's purposes

Table 10 outlines how ASPI worked in 2019–20 to achieve our purposes, as listed in our corporate plan. It provides either specific information or references to the relevant chapter of the annual report.

Table 10: How ASPI achieved its purposes, 2019–20

Purpose

How do we measure achievement?

Who benefits?

What we achieved in 2019–20

Conduct and publish research

The number and type of publications and The Strategist pieces produced by ASPI, together with examples of how the publications have contributed to the national debate

ASPI informs the public by publishing information and analysis on a full range of strategic, defence and national security issues that bear on the choices facing Australia over coming years.

Through seven series of publications, 57 publications were produced. There were 1,070 pieces on The Strategist from 357 individual authors. Information about the contribution to the national debate of some of ASPI’s publications is in Chapter 3 of this report.

Provide an alternative source of strategic policy ideas and advice

Participation in government advisory

committees and expert panels

ASPI is a source of new ideas and

innovative solutions for government, both through our published work

and through policy analyses specifically commissioned

by government.

ASPI staff were invited to participate in eight government advisory

committees and expert panels.

Submissions to parliamentary inquiries

ASPI provided five submissions to parliamentary inquiries.

A list of the submissions is in Chapter 1.

Purpose

How do we measure achievement?

Who benefits?

What we achieved in 2019–20

Stimulate public discussion

Number and range of ASPI public events

ASPI informs the public by hosting several events open to the public and through readily accessible online material on ASPI’s website each year, including opinion pieces, reports, podcasts and

The Strategist.

ASPI conducted 103 events during 2019–20. A list of the events is in Chapter 4 and Annex D.

Published opinion pieces

87 opinion pieces written by ASPI staff were published.

Examples of media coverage contributing to the national debate

Examples of media commentary are in Chapter 3.

Website,

The Strategist and social media usage

Information and graphs on social media usage are in Chapter 1.

Promote international under- standing

Ranking in University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index

ASPI’s standing as a respected

source of analysis is recognised globally. This allows us to strengthen links and engage regularly with overseas think tanks to inform

the international community of Australia’s strategic and defence policy perspectives.

Information about ASPI’s ranking in the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tank Index is

in Chapter 1.

Purpose

How do we measure achievement?

Who benefits?

What we achieved in 2019–20

Invitations to speak at international conferences

ASPI staff attended three international conferences as speakers. See Annex D

for more details.

Links with overseas think tanks

Information about ASPI’s links to other think tanks is in Chapter 1.

International Visiting Fellowships

ASPI hosted five Visiting Fellows.

Participation in and hosting of international dialogues.

ASPI hosted six Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues. A list of the dialogues is in Chapter 1.

Develop expertise

Number of interns whom ASPI supports

ASPI has an internship program that engages four interns on a six-monthly rotation.

Published pieces by interns

Reports, publications and

The Strategist pieces with sole and co-authorship by interns in 2019–20 included:

  • Publication: Retweeting though the Great Firewall
  • Publication: National security agencies and the cloud: an urgent capability issue for Australia
  • Publication: Covid-19 disinformation and social media manipulation trends
  • Publication: Covid-19 attracts patriotic troll campaigns in support of China’s geopolitical interests

Purpose

How do we measure achievement?

Who benefits?

What we achieved in 2019–20

  • Publication: ID2020, Bill Gates and the Mark of the Beast: how Covid-19 catalyses existing online conspiracy movements
  • Publication: Running on empty? A case study of fuel security for civil and military air operations at Darwin Airport
  • Publication: After Covid-19: Australia and the world rebuild (volume 1)
  • Publication:

Hacking democracies

  • The Strategist post: ‘New crisis, same old problems for the EU’, Alexandra Pascoe, 18 May 2020
  • The Strategist post: ‘Women’s rights in China and the legacy of the Feminist Five’, Daria Impiombato, 8 May 2020
  • The Strategist post: ‘India– China tensions flare up on new front: TikTok’, Daria Impiombato, 4 June 2020
  • The Strategist post: ‘Northern Australia needs to be ready to meet climate-change-driven security challenges’,

Hal Crichton-Standish, 20 March 2020

Purpose

How do we measure achievement?

Who benefits?

What we achieved in 2019–20

  • The Strategist post: ‘Australia must fast-track new domestic storage

to ensure fuel security’, Hal Crichton-Standish, 7 May 2020

  • The Strategist post: ‘In a crisis, Australians might soon be running on empty’, Hal Crichton-Standish,

13 May 2020

  • The Strategist post: ‘Renewable energy exports could be vital for Australia’s post-fossil-fuel future’,

Hal Crichton-Standish, 26 June 2020

  • The Strategist post: ‘Thailand’s hashtag activism targets political change’, Tracy Beattie, 20 April 2020
  • The Strategist post: ‘Is Thailand heading for another political crisis?’, Tracy Beattie, 29 May 2020
  • The Strategist post: ‘Russia’s growing interests in the South China Sea’, Sunny Cao, 18 December 2019
  • Weekly wraps: Five domains wrap and national security wrap
  • Monthly wraps: Women, peace and security

Participants in ASPI professional

development courses

ASPI conducted 13 courses and workshops. A detailed list is in Chapter 2.