An insightful evening at The Lowy Institute Dinner

It was wonderful to come together on Wednesday 9 August for our annual Moriah Foundation Lowy Institute Dinner.

This year, we were privileged to hear Lowy Institute Executive Director, Dr Michael Fullilove AM in discussion with our esteemed guests, Senior Fellow for East Asia, Richard McGregor and former Australian Ambassador to Moscow, Peter Tesch who discussed China, Russia and Ukraine and how the United States is responding to these challenges.

In welcoming our guests, Foundation President Judy Lowy OAM reflected on the challenging economic times and thanked our donors for supporting our Moriah families who require assistance, while also bringing exceptional opportunities to all our children.

Judy also spoke of the need to upgrade our buildings and facilities.

“While it is undoubtably our teachers, and educational leadership who are central to our children’s learning, providing improved learning environments is important and we look forward to sharing more details with you in the coming months.”Foundation President, Judy Lowy

Michael Fullilove spoke about the difficult and contested period in our international history including unchecked climate change, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the thawing of Australia’s relationship with China but noted that on the positive side, challenges around the world has restored Australia’s confidence in our own democracy.

Some of the thought-provoking insights from our panel:

On China: Richard McGregor

China is still run by a radically opaque communist party and talk about China’s weaknesses are overstated.

Australia’s relationship with China has stabilised in the short term but as a close ally of the US, we are bound to come into conflict with China in lots of big and small ways in coming years.

On Russia: Peter Tesch

Australia is on a fundamentally divergent path to Russia.

While there is a creeping re-authorisation of the system in Russia, the era of the uncontested reign of Putin is over.

I have been really struck by how cohesive and sustained the western collective response has been in enabling Ukraine to carry the fight to Russia. We are yet to see what will happen but if we keep supplying Ukraine, we have reason to believe they will hold their own.

On the Russia China relationship

Strong and substantial but less than coherent. There is too much at stake for them to let it fall apart.
Richard McGregor

There is no love lost or illusions but they will retain a common strategic interest in eroding US preponderance in the world.
Peter Tesch