AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AGAIN NAMED TOP THINK TANK IN THE REGION

The Australian Institute of International Affairs has been voted the top think tank in South East Asia and the Pacific in the annual Global Go To Think Tanks Index 2015. This is the second consecutive year that the AIIA has achieved the number one ranking in South East Asia and the Pacific, and the first year that it has been ranked among the top 50 Think Tanks Worldwide.

The Index, compiled by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program based at the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, acknowledges the important contributions made by think tanks worldwide. The Index began in 2006 in response to requests from donors, government officials, journalists and scholars to produce regional and international rankings of the world’s pre-eminent think tanks.

The Index was released early this morning in the US as part of series of global launches in around 80 countries. The Australian launch is being hosted by the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, The Australia Institute and ANU’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at Stephen House, 32 Thesiger Court, Deakin at 10.30am, Thursday 28 January. Nineteen Australian think tanks are listed in the rankings this year.

The National Executive Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Melissa Conley Tyler, said its top ranking recognised the AIIA’s 92 year history as an independent non-partisan body promoting interest in and understanding of international affairs.

“We are delighted that the Australian Institute of International Affairs has again been recognised as the top think tank in the region by this prestigious index”, Ms Conley Tyler said. “It’s a remarkable achievement for a community-based organisation that relies mainly on volunteers.”

“It caps off a wonderful year with the AIIA reaching record numbers including through:

• 600,000 page views of the AIIA’s Australian Outlook blog and website;
• 82,000 full-text downloads of the AIIA’s Australian Journal of International Affairs;
• 39,000 visitors to the Windows to the World embassy open day program in conjunction with the ACT Government;
• 350 people attending the AIIA National Conference; and
• almost 200 AIIA events in seven states and territories nationwide.”

Full Global Go To Think Tanks Index 2015 rankings for Australian Think Tanks (compiled by the Australian Institute of International Affairs) can be found here. Please note this is an updated list following the release of the final report on 31 January 2016.

The 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report can be accessed here.