As 2020 began, the world watched as the COVID-19 pandemic slowly spread its way across the globe. Across the countries of ASEAN, this unprecedented event played out in diverse ways. Countries like Vietnam demonstrated highly effective ways of managing the virus, whereas others, like Indonesia, spent considerable time denying its existence. These experiences reflect quite different responses to the pandemic – differences that underscore the diversity of political, economic and health landscapes across the ASEAN region.

Join our experts for a week-long exploration into how ASEAN and the countries it comprises have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic at a government level, economically, and in terms of health and livelihoods.

Our exciting line-up of speakers includes:

Dr Thushara Dibley (University of Sydney)

Associate Professor Gregory Fox (University of Sydney)

Associate Professor Jeff Neilson (University of Sydney)

Dr Sandra Seno-Alday (University of Sydney)

Dr Aim Sinpeng (University of Sydney)

Each of our specialists will record a 5-minute video presentation which will be made available in the week of 3-5 August 2020. They are instructed to pitch their talk to an interested, but not necessarily academic, audience so the talks are able to be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

In addition, our speakers will be recording 15-minute podcasts about the same topics, which will also be made available in the week of 3-5 August 2020.

Following each presentation, audience members will be invited to send in their questions by commenting under the videos by 5pm (AEST), Monday 10 August 2020. The speakers will then respond to the main questions raised by the audience in a panel discussion, which will be made available on Wednesday 12 August 2020.

All videos recorded as part of ASEAN Forum 2020: Responses to COVID-19 will be made available for public viewing on our Facebook page and our YouTube channel from the 3rd of August 2020 onwards.

All podcasts recorded as part of ASEAN Forum 2020: Responses to COVID-19 will be made available for public listening on your favourite podcast provider (iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, and more!).