AABS is pleased to bring you reflections of the 21st Conference of AABS’s Australasian Chapter, held from 12-13 October 2024 in Perth, Australia, at Edith Cowan University. The conference was the most international in AABS Australasia Conference history, featuring 33 participants from 14 countries.
The first piece is a recap written by AABS Australiasia President Dr. Delaney Skerrett and conference attendee Dr. Luda Popenhagen.
The second is a reflection from conference attendee Piotr Szlaużys, a first time participant at the Australasia Conference.
Both pieces have been lightly edited. Thank you to Delaney, Luda, and Piotr, for allowing AABS to share your words!
21st Australasia Conference Recap
Dr. Luda Popenhagen and Dr. Delaney Skerrett
The Australasian chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies held its twenty-first conference from October 12-13 at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia, with an acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the land, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.
Thirty-three participants presented in the most international AABS Australasian conference to date. In person attendees came from Finland, Canada, Poland, and of course Australia, many being Baltic Australians. Online presenters came from the three Baltic countries, five other European countries, India, the USA, and again of course, Australia.
Welcome to Australia!
The theme of the conference was “The Baltic States on the World Stage.” This was informed by the continued global importance of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania because of their geographical proximity to Ukraine, our shared history of Russian aggression, and our central role in assisting Ukraine through political, economic, and humanitarian channels. The Baltic states remain among top supporters of Ukraine militarily and financially relative to GDP. All 3 countries have taken in Ukrainian refugees equivalent to around 3% of their populations—proportions that would equate to around 1 million people in the United States, and are exceeded only by Poland.
(left to right): H.E. Jaan Reinhold, Ambassador of Estonia; H.E. Marģers Krams, Ambassador of Latvia; Dr. Uldis Ozoliņš, Western Sydney University & RMIT; Darius Degutis, Ambassador of Lithuania
This was the 3rd Australasian AABS conference in recent years that has centered Russia’s war on Ukraine—our first conference on the issue dates back to 2014 at Monash University after Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea.
The ambassadors of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in Australia – Estonian Ambassador H.E. Jaan Reinhold, Latvian Ambassador H.E. Marģers Krams, and Lithuanian Ambassador H.E. Darius Degutis – all attended the conference in person and participated in a roundtable chaired by political scientist Assoc. Prof. Uldis Ozoliņš, who also serves as Treasurer for AABS Australasia. The ambassadors discussed migration, their defence systems, and support for Ukraine.
Andra Putnis, a third-generation Australian Latvian, gave a keynote address about the eighteen year-long process of writing her new book Stories My Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me. The book reveals the incredible stories of how her two grandmothers survived the terror of World War II before immigrating to Australia.
Andra Putnis
(left to right) Birute Radzivanas; Dr. Maarja Merivoo-Parro, University of Jyväskylä; Dr. Eve Puodžiūnaitė Wicks, Griffith University; Andra Putnis
Assoc. Prof Alexey Muraviev of Curtin University delivered the second keynote, entitled “Target Baltics? The War in and over Ukraine; Russia-NATO strategic stand-off and Possible Risks of Russia’s Offensive in the Baltic Region.” While the outlook of the address was guarded for the Baltic states, it once again highlighted the role of the three countries on the world stage.
Overall, half of the presentations at the conference featured cultural issues, demonstrating the increased development of new analysis and scholarship about elements of Baltic culture in historical and contemporary contexts. Indeed, in addition to security and defence contributions per the conference theme, a major trend line throughout the conference was the contributions of Baltic states and scholars to culture, the arts, and storytelling on the world stage.
The AABS Australasia Conference is held every two years at universities in different major cities in Australia. The location of the next conference will be announced in 2025 or early 2026.
Overall, half of the presentations at the conference featured cultural issues, demonstrating the increased development of new analysis and scholarship about elements of Baltic culture in historical and contemporary contexts. Indeed, in addition to security and defence contributions per the conference theme, a major trend line throughout the conference was the contributions of Baltic states and scholars to culture, the arts, and storytelling on the world stage.
The AABS Australasia Conference is held every two years at universities in different major cities in Australia. The location of the next conference will be announced in 2025 or early 2026.
First Trip to Perth
Piotr Szlaużys
The moment I found out I had been accepted to present at a conference in Australia, I knew I was about to embark on the longest journey of my life. From autumnal Vilnius, I set off through Singapore to reach the spring warmth of Perth. Hosted by Edith Cowan University, the AABS Australasian Chapter 21st Conference, titled “The Baltic States on the World Stage,” spanned two eventful days, from Saturday 12 October to Sunday 13 October 2024.
Throughout the Conference, I met a number of participants from past AABS conferences held in the U.S. and Europe. The sessions covered various topics, focusing on Baltic issues, cultural expression, political science, history, and diplomacy. The attendees, both in-person and online, came mainly from academic circles in Australia, Europe, North America, and Asia. Among the notable guests were the Ambassadors of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to Australia, who participated in the Baltic Diplomatic Roundtable. There were also authors promoting their books on Baltic immigrants’ experiences, adding a literary touch to the gathering.
The atmosphere was exceptionally welcoming, fostering open exchanges and friendships. After the Conference, I was invited to join the Lithuanian Ambassador’s meeting with the Lithuanian immigrant community of Western Australia.
I left Perth with high hopes to attend future AABS conferences in that beautiful area.
Piotr (second from left) with conference organizers and participants
Piotr with the Lithuanian community in Perth