Legendary Queensland journalist Sean Dorney AM has been named as the AIIA Queensland Award winner for 2019. Sean, who is celebrated as an icon of Pacific reporting in the Australian media, was presented with his award by Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey AC at Government House Brisbane on Wednesday, November 27.
He became a household name in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific through his work as an ABC correspondent over four decades. During that time, he was awarded an MBE by the PNG Government and captained the country’s Rugby League national team, the Kumuls.

In 2018, Sean was recognised as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs. Despite living with Motor Neurone Disease, he has been actively engaged with AIIA Queensland in 2019. In March, his address on Australia’s Welcome Re-engagement with Papua New Guinea and the Pacific attracted a sold-out audience. In October, Sean and his wife, Pauline Nare, attended a panel discussion on Deepening the ties – opportunities for increased engagement between Queensland and the Pacific islands region

The objective of the Australian Institute of International Affairs is to promote an interest in and an understanding of international affairs by providing a forum for discussion and debate but without seeking to formulate institutional views.

With this objective in mind, AIIA Queensland has established the AIIA Queensland Award.

The Award is not a monetary one but carries with it significant prestige.

The award is made in recognition of a notable achievement in international affairs in a specific sphere of activity which relates to AIIA’s objectives, e.g. presentation of a lecture, written publication, education, travel or recreation, health and safety or commerce.

The award will normally be made to an individual living in Queensland but where an organisation or team has been involved the award may be made to an organisation or team.

We will advise when nominations open for the Award in 2020. Please email all nominations for the AIIA Queensland Award to aiiaqld@20.185.176.227