Economist and Myanmar expert Professor Sean Turnell has been honoured as the recipient of the 2024 Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Asialink Medal.
The Dunlop Medal recognises outstanding records of achievement in improving Australia-Asia relations and enhancing the quality of life in the region. The medal has previously been awarded to prominent Australians including the former foreign minister Julie Bishop, international policy maker Professor Gareth Evans AC KC and Gabi Hollows AO.
In accepting the honour Professor Turnell highlighted the legacy of Sir Edward Dunlop: “It’s not too much to say that when I was growing up Weary Dunlop was a deity. A man who represented not just the best of Australia, but of humanity itself.”
The University of Melbourne’s Vice Chancellor delivered the Dunlop Asia Lecture and spoke of Weary Dunlop’s burning belief in the transformative power of education to build deep and enduring friendship between peoples of very different cultures.
“International students bring vibrancy and dynamism to communities and towns across Australia, right now, in addition to great economic benefit. And over the long term, they offer a trustworthy path to building and maintaining better relations with other countries.”
Professor Maskell pointed to the politics and rhetoric surrounding the current debate about international student caps, saying “how have we lost interest in aiming for a higher degree of idealism as exemplified by Weary Dunlop’s ideas about the power of education as a force for good? What easily gets lost in this discussion is the human face and the human value of international education. In these volatile times we surely need to work much harder on building these kinds of connection.”
Professor Maskell also supported the establishment of a single institution to raise the profile of Australia internationally: “It could be a body that is ideally placed to connect Australian alumni with broad national objectives – to integrate international education into the conduct of foreign policy. It could also make the case for Australia’s international activities’ successes – including education – to the Australian community as a vital national interest.”
Asialink Group Chief Executive Officer Martine Letts said: “The Dunlop Medal and Lecture honours Australians who, like Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop, have demonstrated a visionary commitment to strengthening Australia-Asia relations. Positive engagement with Asia is vital for all Australians, our future prosperity and security depend on it.”
