Australia India Youth Dialogue 2026 to ExploreLeadership in an Age of Artificial Intelligence
MEDIA RELEASE
23 July 2026
The Australia India Youth Dialogue (AIYD) 2026 will be held across 28-31 July in Brisbane and Perth, Australia, marking the first time the Dialogue heads to Queensland and Western Australia.
Responding to the emerging questions regarding new technologies in both countries, the 2026 Dialogue will focus on "Complex Systems: Reshaping Leadership in an Age of Transformation."
Bringing together emerging leaders from Australia and India, AIYD 2026 will examine how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping the complex systems that underpin our economies, industries, institutions and societies.
The Dialogue will explore how technology is transforming the way leaders make decisions, collaborate across sectors and respond to increasingly interconnected challenges.
Hosted across Queensland and Western Australia, the Dialogue will be structured around four interconnected themes:
Economic & Innovation Systems – exploring the impact of AI on entrepreneurship,
finance, markets and business decision-making.
Industrial & Resource Systems – examining the role of AI in critical minerals, clean
energy, infrastructure and industrial productivity.
Governance, Knowledge & Institutional Systems – considering how AI is influencing
public policy, research, higher education and trust in institutions.
Human, Cultural & Influence Systems – discussing the opportunities and challenges
AI presents for health, sport, creativity, culture and social inclusion.
Following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Australia, AIYD 2026 comes at a pivotal moment in the Australia–India relationship, as both countries deepen cooperation in critical technologies, economic resilience and innovation.
The Dialogue aligns closely with the Australia–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Australia–India Economic Roadmap 2025, the Australia–India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, and the Centre for Australia-India Relations' Maitri Grants Program, reflecting the growing importance of youth leadership in shaping the bilateral relationship.
AIYD India Co-Chair Dr Anthony Vipin Das said the 2026 Dialogue recognises that the greatest challenge facing tomorrow's leaders is not simply understanding new technologies, but navigating the systems they transform.
"Artificial intelligence is changing far more than the technology sector. It is reshaping how governments govern, businesses compete, industries operate and communities connect.”
AIYD Board Chair and Australia Co-Chair of the Steering Committee Ms Michelle Jasper said that taking the Dialogue to new horizons in Queensland and Western Australia would expose emerging leaders to different aspects of Australia’s economy and cultural landscape.
“AIYD 2026 will bring together Australia's and India's next generation of leaders outside our two biggest metropolitan centres and into our resource economies, with new technologies being tackled."
The Dialogue will start in Brisbane on Tuesday 28 July at the University of Queensland (UQ). UQ is proud to support AIYD 2026 as a Dialogue Partner and will host the 2026 Dialogue in Brisbane at its St Lucia campus, as well as the Welcome Reception at Customs House in Brisbane.
UQ Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Partnerships) Mr Brett Lovegrove said the Australia India Youth Dialogue plays an important role in shaping the next generation of leaders, innovators and changemakers across Australia and India.
“Our partnership with India is one of UQ’s most significant and enduring international relationships, built on a shared commitment to education excellence, research and innovation, and global impact.”
The Dialogue will move to Perth on Thursday 30 July and be hosted at the University of Western Australia (UWA). Professor Amit Chakma, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Western Australia, said:
"The University of Western Australia is proud to support the Australia India Youth Dialogue as it brings together the next generation of leaders to address the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. As UWA deepens its engagement with India through our growing education, research and industry partnerships, initiatives such as AIYD play an important role in strengthening people-to-people connections and fostering future collaboration. We are particularly pleased to formalise our partnership through the signing of the Global Engagement Alliance, reaffirming our shared commitment to developing leaders who will shape the future of the Australia–India relationship."
The Dialogue is also being sponsored by the Western Australian Government.
The Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, Bruce Reynolds, said:
"Perth is proud to host part of the Australia India Youth Dialogue, strengthening the ties between our two nations while empowering the next generation of leaders to shape a future driven by innovation, collaboration and artificial intelligence."
The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Australia–India Relations (CAIR), Ryan Neelam, said:
“The Australia India Youth Dialogue has an impressive legacy of bringing together thoughtful, driven and globally minded Australians and Indians to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives and build lasting connections. This inspiring group of young leaders will play a crucial role in where Australia’s relationship with India goes next.”
For more than a decade, the Australia India Youth Dialogue has convened outstanding young leaders from both countries to strengthen bilateral ties and develop practical ideas to advance cooperation.
AIYD 2026 will continue this tradition by fostering collaboration across government, industry, academia and civil society, ensuring emerging leaders are equipped to shape one of the Indo-Pacific's most important strategic partnerships.
Media enquiries:
Aman Gaur; aman@aiyd.org; +61 415 241 017
