Tuesday 20 Apr 2021 | 17:00 | SYDNEY
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About The lowy institute

The Lowy Institute is an independent, nonpartisan international policy think tank located in Sydney, Australia. It is Australia's leading think tank, providing high-quality research and distinctive perspectives on the international trends shaping Australia and the world.

The Lowy Institute hosts speeches by leading national and international figures and holds events and conferences to discuss key global issues. It aims to deepen the international policy debate in Australia and to give Australia a greater voice on the international stage.

The Lowy Institute was founded in April 2003 by Mr Frank Lowy AC, one of Australia’s leading businessmen. Mr Lowy has written:

In 2002, as the fiftieth anniversary of my arrival in Australia approached, I began to consider what philanthropic gesture I might make to the country in return for the half-century of opportunity that Australia had given me. Inspired by the tradition, so well established in America, of individuals establishing think tanks to generate and disseminate public policy proposals, my family and I settled on the idea of supporting the creation of an international policy institute in Australia.

In part this reflected my own preoccupations. My exposure to international political and business leaders and world issues had helped foster a strong interest in global affairs. I wanted my fellow Australians to better understand the myriad global forces that are increasingly shaping their lives, especially as technology has relieved the tyranny of distance under which Australia has always laboured.

The idea of establishing an institute also reflected a frustration that, despite Australia’s distinguished service on the world stage in many areas, its role was not often recognised. As I travelled the world, reading the leading international newspapers of the day, it seemed that the only references to Australia were to shark attacks, bushfires or tennis players. Establishing the Lowy Institute for International Policy was an attempt to broaden this narrative.

In this respect, the goal of the Lowy Institute was to give Australia a bigger voice on the issues that matter in global affairs. But it is also true that you are more likely to be heard if you have something new, insightful or interesting to say. Ultimately, therefore, the Lowy Institute represents an investment in ideas.

The Lowy Institute is located at 31 Bligh St – a heritage building in the heart of Sydney, Australia. More about the building's history here.

What people say about lowy institute

“What Michael Fullilove and Frank Lowy have accomplished here in a short amount of time is quite remarkable – this organisation is on the map and not just on the national map but is really on the international map. When we were looking for a partner in this country to help launch the Council of Councils this was the natural institution to come to. ”
— Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass
“Research from the Lowy Institute plays a vital role in guiding and promoting Australia’s foreign policy priorities. The Institute is an independent and respected voice on many of the international challenges and opportunities that Australia faces in a dynamic and rapidly changing 21st century. ”
— Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
“Australia’s leading foreign-policy think-tank. ”
— Financial Times Chief Foreign Correspondent Gideon Rachman
“Let me at the outset commend the Lowy Institute for the contribution it makes to our understanding of Australia’s place in the world. Lowy’s analysis, its outreach and its expertise places it in the front rank of Australian think tanks and its reputation has rightly spread well beyond Australia. ”
— Peter Varghese, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
“One of the dreams that has been made a reality for all of us, thanks to Frank, is the Lowy Institute, which, since its founding a little more than a decade ago, has risen to become not only a leading centre for foreign policy scholarship here in Australia, but an intellectual force on the world stage, as well. ”
— General David Petraeus AO (Retd)