Strategic cooperation between Australia and Japan has become an increasingly important priority for both countries. Since the signing of the 2007 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (JDSC) — and through the elevation of the relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2014, followed by an updated JDSC in 2022 — bilateral ties have gone from strength to strength. Today, Australia and Japan regard one another as their most important strategic partners after the United States.
Sustaining this momentum, however, will require more than formal agreements. It depends on a deeper mutual understanding between the political, strategic and policy communities of both countries. Central to this effort is strengthening people‑to‑people connections, particularly among the next generation of Australian and Japanese thought leaders who will shape the partnership in the decades ahead.
The Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange(JADE) program contributes to this intellectual and human infrastructure by connecting and empowering emerging talent from both countries. The program brings together early‑career academics, industry professionals and policy practitioners, positioning them to make meaningful contributions to an increasingly close partnership between two of the Indo‑Pacific’s most influential democratic powers.
JADE leverages the Japan Foundation’s longstanding commitment to global intellectual exchange, combined with the United States Studies Centre’s (USSC) deep policy expertise and regional networks
Fellows participate in immersive field visits to Japan or Australia, engaging directly with senior figures across government, industry and academia. These experiences are designed to deepen participants’ understanding of each country’s strategic outlook, policymaking processes and political culture
Throughout the program, fellows receive mentorship from leading USSC experts, including Dr Michael J. Green, CEO of the United States Studies Centre, and Dr Lavina Lee, Director of the Foreign Policy and Defence Program. Participants also work closely with Tom Corben, Research Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program, to develop policy‑relevant publications aligned with their research interests.
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Applications for the 2026 JADE program have now closed
