Following on from the success of last week's Zoom meetings and the necessity to remain out of public spaces where possible, we are continuing our Zoom breakfast meetings next week.
 
Australians tend to think of the Pacific Island countries as tranquil tropical paradises, that provide stable and comfortable ways of living for their citizens. That is true for parts of the Pacific, but the broader reality is different. Poverty rates are alarmingly high, economic growth is low, economic and social vulnerability is high and futures are uncertain for many reasons, including various environmental realities. This presentation will reflect on challenges faced by the Pacific Island countries, what can be done about them and by whom.
 
Like our normal face to face meetings, the meeting will begin at 7:40am and finish no later than 8:45am. However, for those who want to pour themselves a coffee and stay online we will continue the meeting as a fellowship session, similar to the ground floor gathering at the RACV.
 
The link to log on is https://zoom.us/j/466677959 (Meeting ID: 466 677 959). Just press on the link or copy and paste it into your browser. It is a good idea to log on by 7:35am so we are ready to start on time at 7:40am.

Professor Mark McGillivray - Economies of the Pacific

Professor McGillivray has worked in various roles in and on the Pacific for more than 20 years. He is currently Research Professor of International Development at the Alfred Deakin Institute at Deakin University. Previous positions have included Chief Economist of the Australian Agency for International Development in Canberra and Deputy Director of the United Nations World Institute for Development Economics Research. He has worked as an international development consultant and policy adviser for the World Bank, the OECD, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Swedish International Development Agency and the UK Department for International Development.