ANU Southeast Asia Institute
Source: https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/ Parent: https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/
A Laotian fisherman casts his fishing net at Nam Song River, Vang Vieng (Lao: ວັງວຽງ), Laos. Photo courtesy of Emir Syailendra.
ANU Southeast Asia Institute
The ANU Southeast Asia Institute prioritizes research, initiatives, and activities that develop explicitly regional approaches to Southeast Asia
Latest News
Upcoming Events
SEAI Geoec_Op3_AdobeStock_1411754753
### 2025 Southeast Asia Regional Geo-Economic Update: Realignments, Resources and Risks
The ANU Southeast Asia Institute (SEAI) presents a special Update on Tuesday 2 December 2025, with two distinctive foci:
- Coverage of the sub-region of Southeast Asia as whole, with themes spanning multiple SEA countries; and
- A focus on regional geo-economics, complementing SEAI's inaugural Regional Geopolitical Update in May 2023.
Click the button below to view the speakers, program, and video recordings for the Update.
Seminar: Rules-based order? Southeast Asia in the age of the deal
### Seminar Report: Rules-based order? Southeast Asia in the age of the deal
How is Southeast Asia faring in managing the ongoing contestations and renegotiations of key global, regional, and national compacts?
This plenary features speakers from the five ANU Regional Institutes focused on Southeast Asia. The speakers examine the current state of rules-based orders and ordering practices across regional, transnational, and subnational levels. They highlight key challenges and developments shaping the strategic balance, the future of economic liberalism, the resilience of democratic institutions, and the state of the rule of law and human rights.
Click the button below to read the full seminar report.
### Southeast Asia from the Ground Up - Researching the Region
Building on the success of the first ANU Southeast Asia Institute Limited Series, Southeast Asianists, this second series will guide you through these seven stages, offering a comprehensive approach to studying Southeast Asia.
Southeast Asia from the Ground Up – Researching the Regionexplores the experiences of eight emerging and established scholars as they design, conduct, and write their research on Southeast Asia. The "ground-up" approach focuses on empirical insights gained from fieldwork, ethnographic research, archival materials, and large-scale surveys conducted with Southeast Asian citizens.
Through its seven episodes, the series traces the processual journey of Southeast Asian scholars—from meta-thinking about research and deconstructing research puzzles to exploring the nature of data, conducting fieldwork, elite interviews, and engaging in scholarly reflection. Each episode features exchanges between your host, Emir Syailendra, who shares his own experiences and reflections, and the field-based insights of these scholars.
'Southeast Asia from the Ground Up' Info Page
H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN
### 50 Years of ASEAN-Australia Relations: Now and into the Future
The ANU Southeast Asia Institute in partnership with the ASEAN-Australia Centre is pleased to invite you to a keynote address by the Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dr Kao Kim Hourn as he reflects on 50 years of the ASEAN-Australia relationship.
Click the button below to visit the keynote address page for more information and registration method.
Ratchada Train Night Market, Bangkok by aotaro, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
### ANU Southeast Asia Institute Student Research Symposium 2024
Given the diversity of Southeast Asia and the entrenched traditions of country-specific research, how should we develop more explicitly regional approaches and methodologies?
This ANU Southeast Asia Institute (SEAI) Student Research Symposium from 26 -27 November will consist of a mix of student presentations and interactive panels with Southeast Asian experts.
Click the button below to visit the Symposium page regarding the program and registration method.
Photo credit: Nic Cheeseman.
### 2023 Southeast Asia Regional Geopolitical Update's One-stop Information Page
On 1 May, 2023, the ANU Southeast Asia Institute convened the 2023 landmark Regional Geopolitical Update. The update adopted the original and timely theme of Crossroads, Lifelines, and Guardrails. We tackled Southeast Asia’s geographical, historical, and socio-political condition asa crossroads for trans-regional flows of people, goods, beliefs and practices.
Click the button below to visit the one-stop information page regarding the Update program and speakers. The page features corresponding published outputs, including video recordings and essays. This is your opportunity to learn from distinguished policymakers (such as Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan), scholars (such as Prof Evelyn Goh, Prof Khong Yuen Foong, and Prof Kuik Cheng-Chwee) and experts (such as Dr Rizal Sukma of CSIS Jakarta and Dr VŨ LÊ Thái Hoàng of DVA) on Southeast Asia’s current sense of standing atthe crossroads of game-changing geopolitical transitions.
[03 November 2025
Myanmar-Australia Visiting Fellowship Program 2026
Call for expressions of interest for a fully funded short term research fellowship in Australia for a Myanmar academic or researcher.](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/news/myanmar-australia-visiting-fellowship-program-2026)
[Emeritus Professor Tony Johns and Yohanni Johs
30 October 2025
In Memory of Emeritus Professor Tony Johns: Remembering a Brilliant Mind and Beloved Mentor
Vale to a giant of Asia-Pacific scholarship and service](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/news/memory-emeritus-professor-tony-johns-remembering-brilliant-mind-and-beloved-mentor)
[Seminar: Rules-based order? Southeast Asia in the age of the deal
22 May 2025
Seminar: Rules-based order? Southeast Asia in the age of the deal
How is Southeast Asia faring and managing the ongoing contestations and renegotiation of key global, regional, and national compacts? This plenary features speakers from the five Regional Institutes.](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/content-centre/article/news/seminar-rules-based-order-southeast-asia-age-deal)
[The 2025 ANU Myanmar Keynote featured Professor Surakiart Sathirathai, 30 April 2025; Photo Credit: Australian National University/Luka Vertessy
21 May 2025
Regional and global responses to the crisis in Myanmar
The 2025 ANU Myanmar Keynote featured Professor Surakiart Sathirathai, 30 April 2025](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/content-centre/article/news/regional-and-global-responses-crisis-myanmar)
Off
Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat
Tue, 21 Apr 2026
[### 2026 ST Lee Lecture - Judicial independence in modern society: The Malaysian experience
The 2026 ST Lee Lecture will be delivered by Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, Malaysia’s first female Chief Justice.](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/event/2026-st-lee-lecture-judicial-independence-modern-society-malaysian-experience)
A casino on the banks of the Mekong River photo by Greg Raymond
Wed, 6 May 2026
[### Mekong Update 2026: Cross-cutting challenges in mainland Southeast Asia
This event is a collaboration between the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Thailand's Chulalongkorn University and The Asia Foundation.](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/event/mekong-update-2026-cross-cutting-challenges-mainland-southeast-asia)
Topographic map of Southeast Asia. Map data copyrighted OpenStreetMap contributors and available from https://www.openstreetmap.org
Thu, 14 May 2026
[### Continental Southeast Asia as a strategic space
This ANU Southeast Asia Institute Research Seminar examines continental Southeast Asia as a strategic space structured by two distinct but interacting sets of constraints.](https://seasiainstitute.anu.edu.au/event/continental-southeast-asia-strategic-space)
SEAI Original Limited Video Series
Photo courtesy of Emir Syailendra
The ANU Southeast Asia Institute offers the Limited Video Series, comprised of interviews with leading scholars and key decision-makers around the region. The aim is to educate and contribute to core debates about the changing Southeast Asian region.
The series is in two parts:
- Strategizing Southeast Asia - 'explainer' interviews with leading scholars and practitioners hosted and produced by Emir Syailendra. The series offers ways to understand strategy in Southeast Asia better.
- Southeast Asianists - profile interviews with scholars and elites who have spent numerous years working and contributing to our understanding of Southeast Asia as a region.
Contact us
Email: southeastasia.institute@anu.edu.au
For SEAI Seminar Series:\ Dr Nicholas Chan waiyeap.chan@anu.edu.au\ or Dr Deepak Nair Deepak.Nair@anu.edu.au
For the SEAI Limited Video Series: \ Emir Syailendra emirza.syailendra@anu.edu.au
Address: H.C. Coombs Building #9, Fellows Rd, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia