Global Access Partners (GAP)

Global Access Partners is an independent non-profit institute for active policy that initiates strategic debate on the most pressing social, economic and structural issues facing Australia and the world today. It acts as a catalyst for policy implementation and new economic opportunities.

GAP looks beyond the “what”
and “why” of policy discussion, focusing instead on the “how”
and “who” of policy delivery. Established in 1997, GAP is a member of TCG Group — a diverse and growing network of Australian-owned companies founded over forty-six years ago.

Through our pioneering 'Second Track' programme, we foster links between community, government and business and promote innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches to problem-solving. Our alumni network comprises over 3,500 members.

We run multidisciplinary taskforces, forums, workshops, consultative committees, research and feasibility studies, online collaboration, executive consultancy, joint ventures and business missions, both in Australia and internationally.

For every project, GAP contributes one third of the budget and raises two thirds in sponsorship. Learn more about our funding model.

More than 600 people are actively engaged in various GAP projects on a regular basis, and close to 100 sponsors fund various GAP projects.

We work with federal and state governments, major corporate enterprises, peak industry and community bodies, universities and research institutes.

GAP Summit for the Pacific and Small Island Nations announced

Pacific and Small Island Nations Summit report released

The 2021 GAP Summit for the Pacific and Small Island Nations called for new public-private partnerships between Australia and the Pacific that should stem from realising the true value of the Pacific’s societies and environment. Read the Summit Report and Communiqué. Catherine Fritz-Kalish introduces the recommendations and next steps in her blogpost.

GAP to host a virtual Summit
on the New Normal

Building on last year’s theme of national resilience, our 12th Vision for Australia Summit will explore long-term opportunities for Australia as the world establishes a ‘new normal’ in the wake of the global pandemic. Discussions will focus on how to build the workforce Australia needs to support its post-pandemic recovery. Read our Summit flyer .

Protecting Australia’s Sovereignty in a COVID World

The joint National Resilience project by GAP, the Institute for Integrated Economic Research Australia and Gravity iLabs brings together public and private sector thought leaders to develop an integrated national resilience framework for Australia. The group's latest report, First Responders and Defence in Australia, was released today.

The new edition of BESS is out!

The third issue of BESS looks at the Second Track through the lens of neuroscience, outlines new methods in policy decision-making, crowd management and organisational learning, explores the concept of antifragility in relation to ‘black swan’ events, and argues that using science with urgency, at scale and in collaboration will help prevent catastrophic climate change.

GAP hosts a virtual Summit on National Resilience

Our 2020 Vision for Australia Summit examined the issues of national resilience and sought ways to safeguard Australia against future threats. The Summit report offers 12 recommendations across three themes – Leadership, Governance and Resilience – headlined by the call for an independent National Resilience Institute.

'Building back better': Post-COVID age diversity agenda

On 4 June 2020, Global Access Partners, in association with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the GAP Standing Committee on Productive Ageing, hosted a virtual business roundtable to consider the post-COVID future of Australian workplaces. Read its final report and recommendations.