APG Secretariat planning forum – 18-20 March 2025
All APG Secretariat staff attended a planning forum from 18-20 March 2025 in Bowral, Australia. With considerable shifts occurring in the Secretariat’s operating environment, they took the opportunity to reflect on the purpose and priorities of the APG Secretariat, understand the drivers of change as well as contribute to evolving the Secretariat by reshaping the operating model and building flexible capability. The planning forum included internal and external presentations to assist the Secretariat to better support the APG membership.
During the planning forum, the APG Secretariat welcomed addresses from APG Co-Chair Mr Mitsutoshi Kajikawa and Australia’s Head of Delegation Mr Brendan Thomas. Video messages to the Secretariat were also shared from delegates from the Cook Islands, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea and Thailand. These messages included views on the work of the APG Secretariat and suggestions for how this work could further support the needs of members in the future.
APG Co-Chair Mitsutoshi Kajikawa reiterated the Co-Chairs’ Priorities of supporting preparations to ensure a successful start to the Global 5th Round of Mutual Evaluations, strengthening AML/CFT/CPF regimes in the Asia/Pacific region and international cooperation, and monitoring and responding to evolutions in finance. Co-Chair Mitsutoshi Kajikawa expressed his support for Secretariat reform actions and excitement to unveil the APG’s new office location during his visit to Sydney on 7 April 2025.
Australia’s Head of Delegation, Brendan Thomas addressed the Secretariat and discussed membership priorities of technical assistance in the Pacific region, increased support to counter predicate crimes, as well as increasing capacity and representation for smaller jurisdictions.
The APG Secretariat agreed that its mission is ‘to deliver capable, sustainable and valued services that meet APG goals, promote our membership’s interests, and strengthen the AML/CTF environment.’
The APG Secretariat agreed to a number of actions going forward to support this mission, including progressing key reforms to open up the Secretariat through relocation, an unclassified ICT environment, and the development of secondment and external engagement frameworks.
