Draft Plenary Program & Speaker List

12th International Metropolis Conference
Migration, Economic Growth and Social Cohesion
Melbourne Australia
8 - 12 October 2007

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9.00 – 9.45 Conference Welcome

Chair:
Stephanie Fahey, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International) of Monash University

Speakers:
John So, Lord Mayor City of Melbourne
Rinus Penninx, Co-Chair of the International Metropolis Project
James Gobbo, Chair of the Australian Multicultural Foundation
John Brumby, Premier of Victoria

9.45 – 11.15 Plenary – Migration and the Global Economy

Globalisation and the global economy are known to have an impact on migration flows. However, to fully capture and understand these effects, additional research and policy are needed. In this opening session we will look at the effects of globalisation on migration patterns and migrants. What changes can we expect in these flows and patterns? Have the relative preferences for skilled and unskilled labour been altered? Is the profile of immigrants changing and is migration becoming increasingly feminised? What should we expect in the future? And how will these changes affect the world’s cities? Not only do we not know enough about the effects of the global economy on migration, but discussions on globalisation tend to emphasise the high-skilled entrepreneur who moves relatively freely between economies, often ignoring the impact of globalisation on poor or lower-skilled migrants. Our aim is to move beyond discussions that look solely at the migration of poorer migrants to richer countries; we will thus also consider South-South movements of poorer migrants.

Panellists:
Stephen Castles, University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Ndioro Ndiaye, International Organisation for Migration (Geneva, Switzerland)
John Martin, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Paris, France)
Philippe Legrain, Financial columnist (London, United Kingdom)

Chair:
Gill Palmer, Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)

11.45 – 1.15 Plenary – Skilled Migration and its Effects on Developing Countries: The Healthcare Professions

Countries with skilled migration programs have been under much pressure to take seriously the impact of the outflow of skilled migrants from the world’s poorer nations to its richer nations. Many question the ethics of wealthy countries admitting those whose skills are in short supply in their countries of origin and, moreover, many skilled migrants arrive in the country of destination only to find that their skills and qualifications are not recognised by employers or licensing bodies, and they are forced to work in other occupations. In this session we will concentrate on a single case, that of the movement of healthcare professionals. Panellists will look at the empirical facts, including the numbers of healthcare professionals lost not only to migration but to retirement, death and other forms of leaving the profession; to the capacity of universities in the sending countries to replace those lost to these multiple causes; to the opportunities for and conditions of employment in the homeland and destination countries. We will seek guidance for comprehensive policy solutions to the problems that do exist, with a focus on solutions directly related to migration policy.

Panellists:
Mark Goldring, Voluntary Service Organisation (London, United Kingdom)
Manolo Abella, International Labour Organisation (Bangkok, Thailand)
Jaime Z Galvez Tan, University of the Philippines (Manila, Philippines)
Laetitia King, Aga Khan University in East Africa (Nairobi, Kenya)

Chair:
Rosemary Hollis, Chatham House ( London , United Kingdom )

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9.00 – 10.30 Plenary – Social Cohesion, Identity and Belonging

It is widely accepted that for societies to be successful, some degree of internal cohesion is necessary. Nonetheless, many question the extent to which social cohesion is compatible with the principles of liberal democratic societies, including, most notably, protection for individual rights and for minorities, tolerance of pluralism and respect for the rule of law. These questions are not new and liberal democracies have been structured to permit the debate and negotiations that allow for evolution in the face of social and demographic change. This was evident, for example, in demands among women for broader inclusion in the structures of liberal states. More recently, ethnic, racial, religious, linguistic and cultural groups have put forward similar challenges. Can a liberal democratic society legitimately limit behaviour or practices in order to achieve social cohesion and a sense of belonging? How can societies maintain social cohesion and a sense of belonging as diversity increases and members’ identities become more diffuse? The question of identity and belonging becomes even more fraught in developing nations and in those countries that have experienced extreme struggles within and between ethnic groups. These issues go greatly beyond the questions faced by advanced liberal democracies and will be discussed as they challenge our understanding of social cohesion as it is usually understood in the developed world.

Panellists:
Olga Havnen, Combined Aboriginal Organisation (Northern Territory, Australia)
Ulf Hedetoft, University of Copenhagen (Copenhagen, Denmark)
James Jupp, Centre for Immigration and Multicultural Studies, Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)
Demetrios Papademetriou, Migration Policy Institute (Washington DC, United States)

Chair:
Dimitria Clayton, Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration, Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Düsseldorf , Germany)

10.30 – 10.45 Special Address on Social Cohesion

Speaker:
Li Wenliang, Special Commissioner, State Ethnic Affairs Commission
(People's Republic of China)

Chair:
Hass Dellal, Australian Multicultural Foundation (Melbourne, Australia)

10.45 – 11.15 Launch of Scanlon Foundation Social Cohesion Project

This session will launch an important new publication, generously funded by the Scanlon Foundation. 'Social Cohesion in Australia,' is edited by James Jupp and John Nieuwenhuysen, with Emma Dawson, and published by Cambridge University Press.

Speakers:
James Merlino, Minister Assisting the Premier of the State of Victoria on Multicultural Affairs (Melbourne, Australia)
John Nieuwenhuysen, Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements (Melbourne, Australia)

Chair:
Voula Messimeri, Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (Melbourne, Australia)

11.45 – 1.15 Concurrent Plenary Sessions

(i) Return Migration: New Developments, New Responses
Metropolis has, since its inception, paid considerable attention to transnational communities whose members reside in, in a substantial sense, or have ties to, more than one country at the same time. This duality, which extends far beyond the holding of more than one citizenship, has allowed people to maintain exceptionally strong social, family, business and other links to their homeland, something made possible by advances in transportation and communications. Although Italy, Spain and Portugal, among other countries, have also witnessed such duality, immigrants from Hong Kong have often been viewed as the prime example of this transnationalism. More recently, a strong return movement has emerged, not only to Hong Kong, but also to China, India and other source countries. Research suggests that such returns are the result of economic opportunities in the homeland, but also dissatisfaction with their experiences in their destination countries. This session will explore these developments, try to assess their causes and impacts on the destination country and the country of origin, and suggest what might be the longer-term implications for those countries that seek immigrants. Will new recruitment and retention strategies be required and will countries need to seek new sources of immigrants?

Panellists:
Binod Khadria, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi, India)
Pookong Kee, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (Beppu City, Japan)
David Zweig, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong)

Chair:
Erin Tolley, Metropolis Project (Ottawa, Canada)

(ii) Mayors’ Roundtable on Social Cohesion in Diverse Societies
As with most migration-related issues, it is cities that are on the front lines of the social cohesion debate. Indeed, social cohesion problems are nearly always local problems requiring local solutions, and although national policies and global conditions affect what takes place in our cities, it is often local remedies that are most effective. This session will bring together mayors from a number of cities to discuss the challenges to social cohesion that they now face and to look at how cities can most effectively encourage social cohesion. Do cities have the capacity and powers to address these complex issues? Are there incentives for residents, both new and longstanding, to make contributions to the wellbeing of their communities? What role can civil society play? And how do institutional structures, including the representation of immigrants and minorities on city councils and municipal boards, affect the outcomes that can be realised by cities?

Panellists:
Rabin Baldewsingh, Deputy Mayor of The Hague, (Netherlands)
John So, Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Australia)
Kent Anderson, Deputy Mayor (Malmö, Sweden)
Yun Zhihou, Vice-Mayor of Bayanno'er City Government, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (People's Republic of China)

Chair:
Sandra Pratt, Immigration and Asylum, Unit B2, European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security (Brussels, Belgium)

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8.45 – 9.45 Migration and Diversity Directions in Canada, New Zealand and Australia: Special Policy Address

This session will focus on the future directions for Canadian, New Zealand and Australian immigration and diversity policies and the key issues confronting each country in these policy areas.

Speakers:
Jason Kenney, Secretary of State, Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity (Ottawa, Canada)
Chris Carter, Minister for Ethnic Affairs (Wellington, New Zealand)
Kevin Andrews, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Canberra, Australia)

Chair:
Howard Duncan, Metropolis Project (Ottawa, Canada)

9.45 - 11.15 Concurrent Plenary Sessions

(i) The Diversity Advantage: Experts Roundtable
Since the publication of Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class, those in the business of thinking about the integration of immigrants in multicultural societies have been exploring how to make diversity an advantage for a society. Businesses and governments, in particular, have integrated this thinking into their operations. Many are directing their attention to the 'business case' for diversity, to the issue of supplier diversity and to including principles of diversity management in their human resource plans. Some question, however, whether there is a clear link between diversity and economic advantage. This session will explore the question of whether diversity and economic advantage are linked and, if so, how? In addition to discussing the ways in which businesses and cities have linked diversity and economic advantage, the panellists will turn their attention to the research evidence that supports or refutes this connection. They will also examine the factors that may encourage or hamper the ability of cities and businesses to tap into the benefits that diversity may bring.

Panelists:
Saul Eslake, ANZ Bank (Melbourne, Australia)
Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (Canberra, Australia)
Jan Niessen, Migration Policy Group (Brussels, Belgium)
Philippe Legrain, Financial columnist and author (London, United Kingdom)

Chair:
Carla Zampatti, Special Broadcasting Service (Sydney, Australia)

(ii) Minorities and Security
In the current climate much has been made of the real, potential, or presumed link between immigration and security. As attention to "homegrown terrorism" has increased, the security aspects of immigrant integration have broadened to include all minorities, immigrant or not. Many now believe that the protection of national security requires effective co-operation between security agencies, communities, and members of minority groups. However, some suggest that such co-operation is undermined by racial profiling or certain foreign policies. This session will look at how these forms of co-operation can be developed and nurtured to manage the risks posed by radicalisation and terrorism, whether international or domestic. Importantly, panellists will consider how to engage communities in questions related to terrorism and security, while avoiding the alienation or marginalisation that results when communities are unfairly - and unhelpfully - viewed as posing a threat. Panellists will also look at the role of the larger society, with a focus on how public attitudes, disparate economic and social outcomes, and intolerance may contribute to feelings of marginalisation or the turn to radicalisation. The responsibility for minimizing security threats must be shared, which brings with the need for building trust between minority groups, communities and those agencies directly concerned with national security. What national and local policies are needed to assist us in navigating this complex array of issues?

Panelists:
Rosemary Hollis, Chatham House (London, United Kingdom)
David Wright-Neville, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
Richard Towle, UNHCR Regional Office for Australia, NZ, PNG and the Pacific (Canberra, Australia)
Abraham Mame, Multicultural Affairs Unit, City of Darebin (Melbourne, Australia)

Chair:
Marco Lombardi, Resp. Settore Internazionale, Fondazione ISMU (Italy)

11.45 - 1.15 Concurrent Plenary Sessions

(i) Immigration and Settlement Outside of Major Urban Centres:
An Examination of Comparative Approaches
In most countries, migrants settle in larger urban areas, rather than in small cities and rural communities. At the same time, labour market needs, declining populations and a desire for regional economic development have prompted governments, employers, and citizens to look at how to attract and retain immigrants outside of major metropolitan areas. Many refer to this as "regionalisation," whereby various programs or policies are put into place to encourage immigrants to settle and remain in cities outside of a country's major metropolitan areas. This plenary will showcase the results of a recent comparative study of approaches to regionalisation. Speakers will consider initiatives designed to encourage regional migration, including their success in directing immigrants to smaller centres, the impact of these initiatives on regional economies and demographics, and the effectiveness of retention strategies. What is the relationship between regionalisation policies and socio-economic trends, such as labour force growth or population decline? What are the characteristics of centres where regionalisation appears to have worked? What factors are important for the retention of immigrants in these centres? And what factors might prompt secondary migration from these centres to larger urban areas?

Speakers:
Jacinta Allan, Victorian Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation and Minister for Regional and Rural Development (Melbourne, Australia)
Tom Carter, The University of Winnipeg (Winnipeg, Canada)
Richard Bedford, University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand)

Chair:
Meghnad Desai, London School of Economics (London, United Kingdom)

(ii) Faith and Social Cohesion
Religion has always played a role in organizing and structuring societies, but as these societies have become more multi-faith, the place of faith has been a source of debate. For many, the solution is to clearly separate a public realm from a private realm and assign religion to the private; for others, this is untenable given that religion plays a key role in organizing and structuring societies, whether secular or not. Is secularism an appropriate integration strategy that builds social cohesion? Does the attainment of social cohesion in multi-faith societies require the quarantine of religious life? Indeed, governments can, and often do, turn to faith institutions and religious leaders to communicate with religious and minority communities. How far should this relationship extend, and are there limits to the connection between governments, religion, and faith-based institutions? In treating this challenge, speakers will seek to understand and offer solutions to some of the better-known points of tension, namely, religious symbols, religious holidays, and the treatment of women.

Panelists:
Christian Joppke, American University of Paris (Paris, France)
Samina Yasmeen, University of Western Australia (Perth, Australia)
William Lesher, World Parliament of Religions (Berkeley, USA)

Chair:
Gary Bouma, Monash University and UNESCO Forum on Faith (Melbourne, Australia)

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9.00 - 10.30 Plenary - The Asia-Pacific Region

The 12th International Metropolis Conference is the first to take place in a country of the Asia-Pacific region. This provides an opportunity to become more familiar with migration issues in the region, including managed flows, refugee movements, economic migration, and migration for family re-unification. What trends are we seeing with respect to migration to, from and between the countries of the Asia-Pacific? What impact has this had on national economies, populations, and social and cultural conditions? What have been the policy responses? Equally importantly, we will look at what migration within this region means for the rest of the world, particularly as the economic fortunes of the Asia-Pacific continue to brighten.

Panelists:
Brenda Yeoh, National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Graeme Hugo, University of Adelaide (Adelaide, Australia)
Patricia A Santo-Tomas, National Development Bank (Makati City, Philippines)
Zhang Jijiao, Organising Committee for ICAES 2008 and Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Beijing, China)
Yamawaki Keizo, Meiji University, (Tokyo, Japan)

Chair:
Kwong Lee Dow, Australian Multicultural Foundation (Melbourne, Australia)

11.00 - 12.30 Plenary - The Migration of the Unskilled

Although less-skilled and unskilled migrants can benefit significantly from migration, they can place the greatest pressures on the countries to which they migrate and thus, are sometimes less welcomed and less sought. Low-skilled and unskilled migration also raises serious questions about integration and management. How are we to understand the situation of unskilled migrants, the choices available to them, and the means they have to take advantage of these choices? In this final session, we will attempt to better understand the situation of unskilled migrants and the response of countries of origin and destination. To what extent do unskilled workers turn to migration as an option to improve their economic fortunes? How do they find the avenues and means to migrate when they may lack the resources or skills of migrants who are more highly sought by destination countries? And are the ways in which countries are attempting to manage or limit the migration and permanent residence of unskilled migrants appropriate and effective?

Panellsts:
Meghnad Desai, (London, United Kingdom)
Demetrios Papademetriou, Migration Policy Institute (Washington DC, United States)

Chair:
Peter Mares, ABC Radio National (Melbourne, Australia)

12.30 - 1.15 Closing and invitation to next International Metropolis Conference

Chair:
Howard Duncan, Metropolis Project (Ottawa, Canada)

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