Inside ACELS 19: The Future Starts with People

What does the future of Australia-China relations look like? For four days in Brisbane, it could be seen in the conversations, ideas, and friendships shared by emerging leaders from across Australia and China.

From 16 to 19 July 2026, delegates from across Australia and China gathered in Brisbane for the 19th Australia-China Emerging Leaders Summit (ACELS 19). Through discussions on diplomacy, trade, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and culture, delegates explored both the opportunities and challenges shaping the Australia-China relationship today. More importantly, they demonstrated that the future of bilateral engagement depends not only on governments and institutions, but also on people willing to listen, learn, and work together.

Here are some of the highlights from ACELS 19.

Brisbane Welcomes ACELS 19

The summit officially commenced with a Networking Night at The Westin Brisbane, where delegates from across Australia and China gathered for an evening of conversation and connection.

We were honoured to welcome Nicole Andronicus, General Manager of 2032 Host City, Global Relations and Economic Partnerships at Brisbane City Council. Nicole spoke about Brisbane's growing international profile and highlighted the importance of cultural exchange, grassroots engagement, and people-to-people connections in strengthening ties between Australia and China.

For many delegates, the evening marked the beginning of friendships and professional networks that would continue throughout the summit and beyond.

Diplomacy in Action

As Australia and China navigate an increasingly complex international environment, diplomacy remains as important as ever.

One of the summit's highlights was Constructive Statecraft: Australia-China Diplomacy in Action, featuring Professor Colin Mackerras AO, Professor Caitlin Byrne AM, and Dr Tess Newton Cain. Drawing on decades of experience across diplomacy, academia, and regional affairs, the panellists explored developments across the Indo-Pacific and Pacific regions, as well as the opportunities and challenges facing Australia-China relations.

A key message throughout the discussion was that while Australia and China may have different perspectives and priorities, constructive dialogue, mutual understanding, and people-to-people engagement will continue to play an essential role in managing differences and building cooperation.

Trade, Economics and a Visit to the Port of Brisbane

Economic engagement was another key feature of ACELS 19.

Delegates were welcomed by our industry partner, the Port of Brisbane, Queensland's largest multi-cargo port and Australia's third-largest container port. The visit provided a unique opportunity to see firsthand how global trade operates and how Australia connects with international markets through logistics, infrastructure, and supply chains.

Building on these themes, delegates later attended the economics panel Resilience over Efficiency: Navigating the New Normal of Australia-China Trade, featuring Dr Prudence Gordon, Dr Christoph Nedopil Wang, and Professor James Laurenceson.

The panel explored key economic questions shaping the Australia-China relationship, from green finance and sustainable development to trade resilience and economic diversification. Delegates heard how China has become a leader in scaling green technologies, why Australia-China trade has remained resilient despite geopolitical tensions, and how multilateral institutions continue to support global economic stability. Throughout the discussion, speakers encouraged delegates to look beyond traditional bilateral frameworks and consider the opportunities emerging across the broader region.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Future

The challenges facing today's emerging leaders are evolving rapidly, making innovation and adaptability more important than ever.

At the Artificial Intelligence Workshop, delegates explored the growing influence of AI and discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping industries, careers, and international engagement. With particular attention paid to developments in Chinese AI, participants considered how young leaders can adapt to a changing technological landscape.

The summit's Problem-Solving Workshop, led by Christy Hui from PwC Australia, challenged delegates to develop creative solutions to real-world problems. Working in teams, delegates designed business concepts, allocated resources, and pitched their ideas, demonstrating impressive collaboration, creativity, and strategic thinking.

Culture, Friendship and Shared Experiences

While diplomacy, economics, and technology were central throughout the summit, ACELS 19 also reminded delegates that meaningful international relationships begin with human connections.

A special fireside conversation with acclaimed Chinese-Australian artist Pamela See (Xue Mei-Ling) explored themes of migration, identity, and cultural exchange. Delegates then participated in a traditional Chinese papercutting workshop, experiencing firsthand how cultural activities can bring people together across backgrounds and experiences.

The summit’s popular Amazing Race offered another opportunity for delegates to connect. Teams worked together across Brisbane's South Bank precinct, tackling creative challenges, cultural activities, and problem-solving tasks while building teamwork, communication skills, and lasting friendships.

These moments reminded us that some of the most important lessons at ACELS happen outside the conference room.

Looking Ahead

After months of planning and four unforgettable days in Brisbane, ACELS 19 concluded with a Closing Ceremony led by ACYG CEO Mackenzie Lang.

In his closing remarks, Mackenzie congratulated delegates on completing an incredible journey and thanked the speakers, partners, project team, and communications team whose dedication made the summit possible. Reflecting on the mission of ACYA and ACYPI, he reminded delegates that ACELS is about far more than a four-day event. It is about empowering the next generation to build bridges, embrace different perspectives, and believe they can make a meaningful contribution to the future of Australia-China relations.

Four Days, Countless Connections

ACELS 19 would not have been possible without the support of an incredible community of partners, speakers, delegates, and volunteers.

We are especially grateful to our Principal Partner, the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations (NFACR); our Education Partner, The University of Queensland; our Property Partner, Place Estate Agents; our Industry Partner, Port of Brisbane; and our Hosting Partner, The Westin Brisbane. We also extend our sincere thanks to all of our speakers, moderators, and guests who generously shared their time, expertise, and experiences throughout the summit.

To our delegates, thank you for bringing enthusiasm, curiosity, and an openness to engage with different perspectives. Whether through panel discussions, workshops, cultural activities, or informal conversations, you made ACELS 19 a dynamic and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Behind every panel, workshop, networking event, and cultural activity was a dedicated team that spent months turning ideas into reality. We would like to sincerely thank Yuqing (Crystal) Zhao, Priscilla Zhou, Bohao Zhang, Ming Yu Ke, Bonan Sun, Kelvin Zheng, Harmoniche Deng, Sunny Dizheng Han, Claire Lee, Will Hunter Burnett, Michael Glover, Ruiqi Wang, Angel Wen, Jessica Yang, Mengjia Yang, Baowen Jiang, Andrea Chai, Ansley Tan, and Jiaqian Peng for their hard work, commitment, and countless contributions throughout the planning and delivery of ACELS 19.