Collaboration and innovation on the menu at APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting

Staff from across the department have recently returned from the first suite of APEC Senior Officials’ Meetings of 2026 in Guangzhou, China.

The Australian delegation was led by Caroline Wardrop (Director, Multilateral Economic team) and included Laura McGrath (Agriculture Counsellor to China) and Ashleigh Thomson (International Forest Policy). They were joined by representatives from the Australian private sector, including Julie Bird (Chair, Hort Innovation and Board Member, Cotton Research and Development Corporation) and Tim Heasley, Jeremy Colless, and Fiona Zheng (Artesian Invest).

Over the week, the delegation participated in meetings, workshops, and field visits aimed at strengthening international partnerships and reinforcing Australia’s role in promoting sustainable, rules-based, science-driven agri-food systems in the region.

At the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security, the delegation reviewed progress and explored practical strategies to address food security challenges. Discussions emphasized the importance of research, innovation, investment, and public–private partnerships in strengthening supply chains and supporting farmers and consumers.

“Australia’s RDC model demonstrates what’s possible when producers and government co-invest” said, Julie Bird, Chair of Hort Innovation, “There was significant APEC interest in how the power of this partnership is turning research into real world impact – strengthening competitiveness, sustainability and confidence across our agri-food systems.”

“A consistent theme across APEC events was the desire to activate capital - not just policy - to tackle food security” said Tim Heasley, Partner at Artesian, “Many economies are still learning how to engage investors and structure public–private partnerships, and they are looking for practical models to channel investment into startups and technologies that boost agricultural resilience.”

Through the APEC Oceans and Fisheries Working Group, the delegation contributed to discussions on sustainable growth in oceans and fisheries, including strengthening regional cooperation, advancing innovation for responsible resource use, and enhancing economic integration across APEC economies.

The delegation also participated in the APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) meeting, engaging with APEC economies to advance cooperation on legal and sustainable timber trade. Discussions reflected a shared commitment to combating illegal logging, aligning with Australia’s ongoing efforts to promote trade in legally harvested forest products.

The department looks forward to participating in further APEC meetings throughout 2026, culminating in APEC Leaders’ Week in November.