Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, today launched the New Colombo Plan Alumni Program in the ACT.

The New Colombo Plan Alumni Program supports alumni to maintain connections with each other, the New Colombo Plan and the Indo-Pacific region throughout their lives and careers.

In the first four years of the program, the New Colombo Plan is supporting around 17,000 Australian undergraduate students to live, study and undertake work placements in the Indo-Pacific.

Over time the growing cohort of New Colombo Plan alumni will play an increasingly important role in Australia's relationships with our neighbours and become an influential and diverse network of Australians with direct experience in the Indo-Pacific, strong professional and personal networks across our region, and a driving force in Australia's future prosperity.

The New Colombo Plan Alumni Program is open to all NCP scholarship and mobility students on completion of their award, and offers members a range of benefits including access to exclusive networking events, professional development and mentoring opportunities, and membership of a growing online community of future leaders with a shared passion for, and experience in, the Indo-Pacific.

A special 'thank you' to our alumni speakers--Emma Roberts and Ee-Faye Chong from The Australian National University – for their support in launching the New Colombo Plan Alumni Program in the ACT! You were wonderful!