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Close to 200 academics, university leaders and researchers from across the world are meeting at The University of Western Australia in Perth this week to celebrate their efforts towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to determine the next steps in tackling these and other global issues.

The researchers are from universities that are part of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a leading global higher education and research network, which drives collaborative research to address issues of international significance.

The WUN Presidents Forum today, is central to the six-day conference, and will focus on global policy and its potential impact on people and their livelihoods, public health concerns, environmental sustainability, and other significant issues.

Expert input and discussion will focus on the International Policy Research in Higher Education, The UN Sustainability Development Goals, Climate Accords, China Belt and Road, and the Pacific Partnership.

Australia’s former Minister for Foreign Affairs, UWA Professor Stephen Smith will deliver a keynote address on the gaps in meeting international policy opportunities, including practical strategies and actions. Professor Gordon Flake, CEO Perth USAsia Centre, will join a panel to discuss engagement and objectives in policy research, and the impact of science in policy development.

Professor John Hearn, Executive Director of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) said the WUN Annual Conference and AGM brought top talent from around the world to focus on the big challenges in health, education, environment and culture. The results build global perspective and understanding with practical impact.

WUN experts from 23 universities on six continents bring local and global research innovation that is directly relevant to policy development. WUN is launching its Global Policy Research Group this week at its Presidents Forum, which will further focus these efforts.

The University of Western Australia’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said it was particularly pleasing that this year’s WUN Conference was being held in Western Australia.

“This allows us to showcase our rapidly growing science, research and innovation capacity,” Professor Freshwater said.

“Western Australia is rapidly emerging as a centre for global research excellence and we, as a world-leading university, are focused on building a culture that fosters this research at the highest level.”

Media references

What: Worldwide Universities Network Presidents Forum, Conference and AGM
Where: University Club of Western Australia, Hackett Drive, Crawley
When: Presidents Forum Friday May 25, other conference events from May 20 to 25 (see the program )

Media contact for more information: Dr Mike Hasenmueller WUN General Manager
T: 0414 445 151 | E: [email protected]