24 November 2008
The newly appointed Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism William Paterson will update the world's "terrorism scorecard" at a Monash University organised forum into terrorism post 9/11.
Mr Paterson has extensive experience in international strategic and security policy, politico military affairs, intelligence and regional issues as a senior federal government official, including as Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Anti-Terrorism Task Force immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Mr Paterson served as Chief of Staff and Principal Adviser to the Foreign Minister (2000) and as Assistant Secretary for Asia, APEC and Trade policy in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (1998-99).
At the conference he will speak about the terrorism challenges Australia has conquered and those we continue to face at the international global terrorism conference.
"While we can point to some significant successes in the campaign against terrorism, new challenges continue to arise," Mr Paterson said.
"Communication, knowledge transfer and recruitment via the internet are still of particular concern, as is the interest some groups have in getting access to chemical, biological or nuclear weapons."
Monash University's Global Terrorism Research Centre (GTReC) is hosting the conference entitled 'Radicalisation Crossing Borders: New Directions in Islamist and Jihadist Political, Intellectual and Theological Thought and Practice.' It will explore the role of violence and terrorism in the political, theological and ideological developments of Islamism and other emerging radicalisms.
The conference includes speakers from a range of agencies including VicPol, US Consulate General, Department of Defence, US Embassy (Thailand) and the Australian Federal Police.
Director of GTReC Dr Pete Lentini said the conference was timely, with radicals and terrorists of various ideological and theological persuasions becoming more active in Australia and globally.
Speaker: Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism William Paterson
Venue: Legislative Assembly Chamber, Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne
Date and time: 9.15 am, Wednesday 26 November, 9 am Thursday 27 November, 2008.
Media contact: to request interviews with Mr Paterson or Dr Lentini call Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications, on +61 3 9903 4843 or +61 448 557 148.
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