Lowy Institute for International Policy

Lowy Institute for International Policy

Abbreviation	Lowy Institute
Formation	2003
Type	Foreign policy think tank
Location	Sydney
Executive Director	Michael Fullilove
Website	lowyinstitute.org

The Lowy Institute for International Policy is an independent think tank endowed by Frank Lowy to conduct original, policy-relevant research about international political, strategic and economic issues from an Australian perspective. It is based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Its research and analysis aim to be non-partisan, and its active program of conferences, seminars and other events are designed to inform and deepen the debate about international policy in Australia and to help shape the broader international discussion of these issues.

Research Programs

• International Security
• East Asia
• G20 Studies Centre
• Melanesia
• Polling
• International Economy
• West Asia

Website

The institute's website offers publications for free download. In 2006 the regular talks began to be recorded and made available on the website.

The Lowy Institute for International Policy launched a blog 'The Interpreter' in November 2007. According to former Executive Director Allan Gyngell: "it aims to provide you with fresh insights into international events and a new way to engage with the Institute."

Board of directors

The institute's board comprises several notable Australian policy makers and business people.

• Ambassador Chan Heng Chee DUBC – former Singaporean ambassador to the United States
• David Gonski
• Robert Ferguson – former managing director, Bankers Trust Australia
• Martin Indyk – diplomat; former United States ambassador to Israel
• Frank Lowy – Lowy Institute founder and chairman; co-founder, Westfield Group
• Peter Lowy – group managing director of the Westfield Group
• Steven Lowy – group managing director of the Westfield Group
• Ian Macfarlane – former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia
• Mark Ryan – company director
• Judith Sloan – economist
• Michael Thawley – former Australian Ambassador to the United States
• Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC, DFC – former Chief of the Australian Defence Force
• The Hon. James Spigelman AC

Notable staff

• Michael Fullilove, Executive Director and Director of the Global Issues Program
• Rory Medcalf, Director International Security Program
• James Brown, Military Fellow
• Alan Dupont, Non-Resident Fellow

Former staff

• Allan Gyngell, Executive Director (2004–2009) - subsequently Director General of the Office of National Assessments
• Michael Wesley, Executive Director (2009-2012)
• Mark Thirlwell, Director International Economy Program (2004-2013)

Lowy Poll

The annual Lowy Poll surveys a nationally representative sample of the adult Australian population on foreign policy issues and is the Lowy Institute's flagship publication. It is wholly funded by the Lowy Institute and its results are widely cited in the Australian and international media. The Lowy Institute has also conducted opinion polling in Indonesia, New Zealand and China. The first Lowy Poll was in 2005.

New Voices

Each year, the Lowy Institute hosts a seminar with a specific theme relevant to international policy, which is attended by early-career professionals, who have the potential for extensive careers in public policy.

Links to Outcomes Reports

Year	Theme
New Voices 2004	A la carte sovereignty: Australia's transforming borders
New Voices 2005	Binding the World Together
New Voices 2006	Technology and International Relations
New Voices 2007	International Leadership
New Voices 2008	Responsibility in a Globalised World
New Voices 2009	Networked
New Voices 2010	Global Encounters

Criticism

The format of The 2011 Lowy Institute Poll was considered inadequate for formulating Australian policy compared to studies undertaken by CSIRO, Ipsos-Eureka, Cardiff University, Stanford University, and Yale University. Telephones were considered difficult in allowing respondents to think about questions and has double barrelled questions.

External links

• Lowy Institute for International Policy

• Lowy Institute (2014). Board of Directors. Retrieved 30 October 2014.