16 -17 June 2016, Newcastle, Australia – UNITAR’s affiliated training centre in Australia, CIFAL Newcastle, hosted its inaugural event and a flag-raising ceremony to launch its activities in 2016.  The centre, established in partnership with the University of Newcastle and the City of Newcastle, will host several upcoming trainings on topics related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Representatives of the University of Newcastle, the Newcastle City Council, from local CSOs, from CIFAL Newcastle and from UNITAR gathered with members of the press to ceremonially raise the UN flag in Civic Park, Newcastle.  The event commemorated the ongoing collaboration between UNITAR and local partners that will allow the new centre’s capacity-building initiatives to be implemented in the Asia-Pacific region.  Remarks were given by: Ms. Nuatali Nelmes, Lord Mayor of Newcastle; Ms. Caroline McMillen, President of the University of Newcastle; Mr. Alex Mejia, Senior Manager of UNITAR’s Decentralized Cooperation Programme and Head of the CIFAL Global Network; and Dr. Graham Brewer, the recently appointed Director of CIFAL Newcastle.

CIFAL Newcastle’s inaugural training event was a public seminar on the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their implications for development in different urban contexts, with the intention of increasing the understanding of the academic community and the general public regarding this important roadmap which will guide the UN’s initiatives until 2030.  The event featured more than a dozen speakers and had an audience comprised of professors, students, government officials and representatives from CSOs. 

In addition, a breakfast event for local leaders of industry provided the opportunity to introduce UNITAR and the CIFAL Global Network to private sector representatives in Newcastle and outline the role of CIFAL Newcastle in activities related to the 2030 Agenda and DRR in the Hunter Region and beyond.  CIFAL Newcastle serves as a connection point between the region and the international sphere, promoting capacity-building on important topics related to the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that also bring visibility to the region and enhance its reputation as a knowledge center.

UNITAR and its CIFAL Global Network welcome Dr. Graham Brewer to the United Nations family and look forward to a fruitful partnership with the University of Newcastle.