University of Queensland alumnus Tom Gole has been selected as one of 15 young Australian leaders to take part in a high-level forum on Australia-China relations this December.
Since graduating from UQ in 2008 with Bachelors of Economics and Laws, first class honours, and as valedictorian, Mr Gole has gone on to receive his PhD from Harvard University and work for Boston Consulting Group, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
He will participate in the Australia-China Youth Dialogue, which brings together 15 Australian and 15 Chinese emerging leaders under 35 to discuss issues pertinent to the Australia-China relationship and forge connections for the future.
The University of Queensland is sponsoring this year’s event, which will be held in Brisbane from 4-7 December 2015 and includes speakers Professor the Hon Bob Carr, ANZ executive Kip Hanna, former President of BHP Billiton China Clinton Dines and fellow UQ alumna Chi Tang, an architect at top-tier firm BVN.
Mr Gole said the Australia-China relationship was fascinating and there was much to learn from sharing experiences, particularly among youth as they will be the decision-makers of the future.
“My excitement for the Australia China Youth Dialogue comes from the simple recognition that the Australia-China relationship will be one of the foundations of Australia’s prosperity in the 21st century,” he said.
“My greatest hope for this event is to form new friendships and to gain some insight into the thinking and challenges facing not just our Chinese colleagues, but also of young Australians who are invested in this relationship.”
“It is the relationships forged by young people in the 2010s that will be the key to unlocking prosperity in the 2020s, 2030s and beyond.”
Having previously worked at their New York office, Mr Gole is currently a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in Melbourne, where he provides strategic advice to public and private sector organisations on a range of topics, including sustainability, urban economics, digital transformation and procurement.
Drawing on his research background in public finance, environmental economics and political economy, Mr Gole is especially looking forward to discussing economic issues in light of the recently signed China Australia Free Trade Agreement.
“This year’s dialogue comes at a particularly interesting time for those of us with an economics bent, with the debate over the China Australia Free Trade Agreement highlighting both the vast opportunities and some of the differences of interests in our relationship,” he said.
“The future will be bright for both China and Australia, and I hope to contribute to that both as a scholar and as a practitioner.”
For more information about UQ’s engagement in China or support of the Australia China Youth Dialogue contactglobal.engagement@uq.edu.au.
Media: Dr Jessica Gallagher, j.gallagher@uq.edu.au, 07 3346 7869 or Melanie Martin, melanie.martin@uq.edu.au, 07 3346 0665
