The United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney is pleased to share a report from the inaugural Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange (JADE) for the Next Generation fellows looking at issues of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

From 2024-2025, the USSC and Japan Foundation hosted a cohort of seven fellows seeking to strengthen connections and collaboration between the next generation of scholars looking at Australia-Japan relations. The cohort completed exchanges to their partner countries for research and meetings with key stakeholder groups to better understand areas of alignment and potential challenges in deepening ties.

USSC CEO Dr Michael Green said, “The Australia-Japan relationship has flourished since their 2007 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, but there is a dearth of education and exposure for a younger cohort to be able to sustain the momentum. The JADE Program takes burgeoning scholars and gives them more exposure and access to the right spheres in each country to build understanding and relationships.”

In Maritime security strategies for Japan and Australia, JADE fellows Jack Butcher, Rintaro Inoue, Yuka Hinohara, Sam Wendfeldt, Takato Ishida and Dirk Staunton explore their learnings around regional security, collaboration and strategic frameworks for these maritime partner countries.

“This publication is more than a simple reflection of successful outcomes. It is a testament to both the policy talent of this new cohort of thought leaders and genuine interest in building real-world understanding,” USSC Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Prof. Peter Dean noted.

The program will continue with a new cohort of fellows for 2025-2026.

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