The 2025 ANU Migration Update will bring together leaders from government, industry, academia and civil society to explore how migration policies can best drive national prosperity and innovation.
Future Prosperity, Innovation and Human Mobility
Migration is inherently linked to prosperity – from the dynamism of labour markets to the diffusion of skills, innovation, and ideas. Yet the relationship is complex, shaped by economic theory, global evidence, and national context. Some perspectives see migration as a direct boost to GDP and innovation through labour supply and diversity; others stress the importance of skills matching, integration, and institutional capacity to turn movement into momentum.
The 2025 ANU Migration Update will bring together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society to explore how migration policies can best drive national prosperity and long-term innovation. At The Australian National University and hosted by the ANU Migration Hub, participants will hear from senior parliamentarians, leading economists, and international experts on the latest research, global trends, and practical strategies for harnessing human mobility in the national interest.
With plenary panels, high-level workshops, and networking opportunities in iconic settings, this flagship event - sponsored by the Department of Home Affairs and in partnership with the International Organization for Migration - will help shape the conversation on migration, innovation, and Australia’s future.
Keynote Speakers
Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP — Assistant Minister for Immigration; Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade
Hon Julian Hill MP — Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs & Multicultural Affairs; Assistant Minister for International Education
Senator Paul Scarr — Shadow Minister for Immigration; Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Opening Addresss:
Mr Paul Girrawah House — ANU Senior Ngambri-Ngunnawal Custodian
Professor Rebekah Brown — ANU Interim Vice-Chancellor
Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP — Assistant Minister for Immigration; Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade
Plenary: The Global Context of Australian Migration
Nick Latimer — Assistant Secretary, Centre for Population, Australian Treasury
Professor Anna Triandafyllidou — Canada Excellence Research Chair; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies
Plenary: Migration Data & Analytics Innovation
Justin Douglas — Chief Economist, Department of Home Affairs
Associate Professor Aude Bernard — ARC Future Fellow, University of Queensland
Plenary: The Latest on Immigration Outcomes
Featuring senior leaders from ANU, the ABS, Department of Home Affairs, and e61 Institute — including:
Professor Bronwyn Parry
Sneha Chatterjee
Emeritus Professor Peter McDonald
Lachlan Vass
Jenny Dobak
Plenary: Migration, Mobility & the Asia-Pacific
Dr Henrietta McNeill-Stowers — ANU
Mr Chris Richter — IOM Bangkok
With a vote of thanks delivered by David Knight — Chief of Mission for Australia and Coordinator for New Zealand, International Organisation for Migration