An annual retreat to discuss the future of Australia-Arab business, political and civil society partnerships.

AUSTRALIA-ARAB YOUTH LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE

July 6-9, 2012 Dubai, United Arab Emirates MISSION

The Australia-Arab Youth Leadership Dialogue will initiate private discussions with young professionals from Arab League countries and Australia to explore prospects for strengthening the trade, political and civil society partnerships between our countries. A conference will be held every year in either an Arab League state or Australia, with alumni and public events held between conferences.

PROGRAM
Stage 1: Inaugural dialogue The inaugural dialogue will take place in July 2012 in Abu Dhabi/Dubai, bringing together 45 young professionals from Arab League countries (25 from Arab League countries, 20 from Australia) to discuss the future of trade, political and civil society relationships between the Arab world and Australia. The theme for the 2012 conference will be Private Enterprise and Arab Development.

Conference 2012: Private Enterprise and Arab Development

Friday, 6 July 2012 5:30 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 6:45 p.m. Opening Address Reception Dinner

Saturday, 7 July 2012 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Where We Are: The Status of Australia-Arab League relations Lunch Organization Unification of political movements Diaspora Mobilization in Business The role of Business in Development The role of business in development The role and attitude of government in a united development agenda Cultural and religious barriers: overcoming through mutual understanding. Dinner/Cultural Exchange

3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Sunday, 8 July 2012 9:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Political Reform in the Arab world. Coffee Break Microbusiness, technology and the micromultinational

12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Lunch After the Arab Spring: The vision for Arab economies? Private Equity and Financing. Working Dinner/Declaration of Intent drafting and approval.

Monday, 9 July 2012 Participant Departures, Paper Compilation by Staff Stage 2: Alumni relations After the inaugural dialogue the participants will become members of the Australia-Arab Youth Leadership Dialogue Alumni Network. Australian Alumni of the Inaugural dialogue will be invited to attend 3 boardroom functions in the following twelve months after the conference. One will be business focused (with a leading Australian entrepreneur), one with a government focus (with a government minister), and one with a civil society focus (with a leading NGO executive). Arab participants will be able to join these events via video conference and these will become available as podcasts. These events will be hosted by the corporate partners of the Australia-Arab Youth Leadership Dialogue. The Arab Alumni will have similar events, and regular videoconference meetings every 3 months. There will be small grants available for Arab participants to organize their own alumni events. Funding for these will be available through Arab business partners in the region. The Alumni, as a whole, will be encouraged to continue their relationships formed at the dialogue, and the Alumni network will make the tools available to help facilitate these, such as video conferencing facilities and facilitation of trade delegations.

Stage 3: Independent events Three events will be held in Sydney, Australia each year, where politicians, business leaders and civil society will present lectures. This includes facilitating lectures by visiting Arab heads of state, leading entrepreneurs and political delegations. There will also be a gala fundraising dinner each year to be held at Parliament House, Canberra with a significant dignitary, such as a visiting head of state of an Arab country. This is timed for late 2012. The Australian embassies in the region, as well as Australian companies in the region will be approached to run events in partnership with the leadership dialogue. These events will have corporate financial support.

PARTICIPANTS
Selection Process and Criteria:
The only selection requirement for the conference are that participants must speak a conversational level of English and be under 35 at the time of the conference. They also must hold a passport of either Australia or an Arab League state.

Participants will be selected by the following selection committees: - Australian selection committee to select Australian participants. o The Australian selection committee will be made up of notable ArabAustralian businesspeople, representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, think tanks, and notable young professionals. The members of the selection committee will be engaged on a volunteer basis. - Arab selection committee to select Arab participants. o The Arab selection committee will be at the discretion of the organizing committee. The committee will comprise of representatives of the Arab League and other notable businesses and governments. The members of the selection committee will be engaged on a volunteer basis. Participants will be assessed via a written application in English against the following criteria: - Leadership experience and leadership potential. - Commitment to business and social change. - Strong political views. - Vision for future of Australia-Arab relationship and opportunities that this presents. After a process of shortlisting, applicants will be interviewed for further assessment about the contents of their application or their vision for the future of Australia-Arab relations. Application promotion: The Australian applications will be distributed through think tanks, universities, ASX200 companies, and the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce. The Arab applications will be distributed by networks , such as through the Australian embassies and consulates in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Eqypt, and the Palestinian Authority. They will also be distributed through companies with significant presence in the region, such as PwC, KPMG, and Deloitte, and Education City in Qatar. Australian embassies are being approached to act as drop-off points for applications.

Total: 45 participants (20 Australian participants, 25 Arab participants). The conference will be facilitated by a team of Australian and Arab young professionals. All facilitators will have received facilitation training.

PREPARATIONS TIMELINE
January 25 2012: March 1 2012: March 15 2012: March 31 2012: April 3 2012: April 7-10 2012: April 12 2012: April 30 2012: May 31 2012: Venue confirmed. Partners (financial) confirmed and finalized Applications open Partners (in kind) confirmed and finalized Applications close Australian Selection Committee meets (Sydney) Arab Selection Committee meets (Abu Dhabi) Shortlisted candidates (both sides) interviewed via phone Participant selection finalized Guests and dignitaries confirmed Flights for Australian participants plus dignitaries booked (through Australian airline partner)

June 14 2012: June 30 2012: July 6 2012: July 20 2012: August 6 2012: September 2012:

Flights for Arab participants booked (via Arab airline partner) Entry confirmation for Arab participants confirmed by UAE government Dialogue commences Deceleration of Intent finalized and distributed. Conference evaluation completed by conference facilitators Alumni events commence.

PARTNERS
The dialogue is currently working to secure a gold premier partner to host the initial dialogue. In addition, the following partnerships are desired: - 1 x airline partner for transport of Australian participants - 1 x airline partner for transport of Arab participants - 4 x university partners in Australia - 8 x university partners in Arab League countries. - Several funding and networking partners, who will have access to the outcomes of the conference, the alumni network, and be observers at the conference.

BUDGET
AMOUNT REQUIRED: $120,000AUD

The following budget is for the Australian Arab Youth Leadership Dialogue Inaugural Conference, which totals to 120,000AUD. I. INAUGRAL DIALOGUE CONFERENCE Hire of Venue/Accommodation Flights for Australian Participants Flights for Arab Participants Flights/Transport for dignitaries Flights for facilitators Miscellaneous expenses (Conference promotion, application administration, postage) Total Program Costs Amount/unit $25,000 $2,100 $1,200 $2,000 $2,000 $3,000 Quantity 1 20 25 5 5 1 Total $25,000 $42,000 $30,000 $10,000 $10,000 $3,000

$120,000

FUNDRAISING
Key Fundraising Targets: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs: Australian Private Benefactor: Arab Private Benefactor: $42,000 (Sponsor Australian Delegation) $20,000 (Sponsor administration and special guest/dignitary travel) $58,000 (Sponsor Arab Delegation and venue hire)

CONTACT
Alistair Campbell Director of InterConnect Youth +61-431-662-513 acampbell104@gmail.com