Australia Urged to Rethink Africa Strategy as Expert Calls for Deeper Trade, Education and Innovation Links

CANBERRA, July 1 — Australia is failing to capitalise on one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions, with leading African-Australian academic Professor Mimi Claudine Watts urging Parliament to pursue a far more ambitious engagement strategy built on education, science, business and diaspora leadership.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s inquiry into strengthening Australia’s trade and investment relations with Africa, Professor Watts argued that Australia’s relationship with the continent remains too narrowly focused on mining despite rapidly expanding opportunities across health, education, agriculture, technology and innovation. 

Professor Watts, who chairs the African Science Research Innovation Council for the African Union Commission in Australia and has spent more than two decades working across both Australia and Africa, told the committee that Australia’s engagement has failed to reflect the continent’s transformation.

“The opportunities for partnerships and relationships, including knowledge transfer between Australia and Africa, are significant,” she said, highlighting recent visits to Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa. 

Beyond Mining

While acknowledging the substantial Australian mining presence across Africa—with more than 200 Australian mining companies operating on the continent and over 150 listed on the ASX—Professor Watts said Australia was overlooking enormous opportunities in other sectors. 

She argued that Africa should no longer be viewed primarily through an extractive industries lens, instead pointing to sectors including:

• Health and medical technology
• Science and research collaboration
• Higher education
• Agricultural technology
• Housing innovation
• Small business partnerships
• Knowledge transfer

One example she cited was Nigeria’s development of affordable student housing costing under US$5,000 per unit—an innovation she suggested Australia could study amid its own housing affordability challenges. 

Untapped Strength of Australia’s African Diaspora

A recurring theme throughout the hearing was the underutilisation of Australia’s African diaspora.

Professor Watts said experienced African-Australian academics, professionals and business leaders represent a valuable bridge between Australia and African governments, universities and industries, yet are rarely incorporated into official trade or diplomatic efforts.

She also noted that Australia’s trade and Africa policy leadership lacked senior people of African heritage, arguing that greater representation would strengthen Australia’s understanding of the continent and improve long-term engagement. 

Australia Awards Alumni Could Become Trade Ambassadors

The committee also examined how Australia could better leverage recipients of Australia Awards scholarships.

Professor Watts described graduates who return home after studying in Australia as “natural ambassadors” who frequently rise to influential positions in government, healthcare, academia and business.

Rather than allowing these relationships to dissipate, she recommended formal alumni networks supported by government to help facilitate future trade, investment and diplomatic engagement.

She also called for Australia to increase the number of scholarships awarded across Africa, arguing that the current intake remains modest relative to a continent of more than 1.2 billion people. 

Science, Universities and Innovation

Another major recommendation focused on research partnerships.

Professor Watts urged Australia to establish stronger institutional relationships with African universities and research organisations, particularly through the African Science Research Innovation Council (ASRIC), which links the national science academies of all 55 African Union member states.

She argued Australia currently has little higher education presence across Africa compared with competitors from the United States, Europe and Asia.

“There is not a single Australian university presence” comparable to other international institutions operating on the continent, she told the committee. 

Potential areas for collaboration include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Medical research
• Agricultural science
• Food security
• Engineering
• Disaster management
• Space technology
• STEM education

Looking Beyond Traditional Partners

Professor Watts also encouraged Australia to broaden its geographic focus.

Rather than concentrating primarily on familiar English-speaking markets, she argued policymakers should explore emerging opportunities in countries such as Ethiopia, Senegal, Rwanda and Egypt alongside larger economies including Nigeria and South Africa.

She pointed to significant infrastructure investment, expanding middle classes and improving technological capability across many African economies, arguing perceptions of Africa often lag behind reality. 

People-to-People Relationships Matter

The hearing also emphasised that successful business engagement in Africa relies heavily on trust and long-term personal relationships.

Professor Watts encouraged Australian businesses to participate in established African trade expos, industry conferences and government-backed forums rather than attempting to enter markets independently.

She highlighted major events such as Egypt’s African Health ExCon and existing African Union institutions as ready-made platforms through which Australian companies could build commercial relationships. 

A Strategic Opportunity

The hearing forms part of the Parliamentary inquiry examining how Australia can strengthen trade and investment relations with Africa at a time when governments worldwide are increasing engagement with the continent. The inquiry is considering evidence from business leaders, academics, diplomats and industry experts before making recommendations to Parliament. 

Professor Watts concluded that Australia already possesses many of the networks needed to deepen its relationship with Africa—but argued they require stronger coordination, greater political attention and a willingness to move beyond traditional assumptions about the continent.

For Australia, she suggested, the challenge is no longer whether opportunities exist in Africa, but whether policymakers are prepared to pursue them.