Recap: Amy Pope’s Visit to Australia Ignites New Hope in Global Migration Dialogue
TBB & IOM’s Business Roundtable in Melbourne, Australia
Last week, Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) had the honor of working with Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), during her visit to Australia. This visit provided an opportunity for critical dialogue on refugee labour mobility, and the untapped potential of displaced talent in addressing global talent shortages and fostering innovation.
The week’s events shed light on the positive impacts of migration, the immense value of regular pathways for displaced talent, and the importance of public-private partnerships in facilitating refugee labour mobility.
IOM / TBB Business Roundtable
Our week with Amy Pope and IOM began on March 26, when we co-hosted a business roundtable in Melbourne, organized by EY Oceania CEO David Larocca. Leaders from the private sector discussed practical strategies for integrating the skills and talents of refugees and migrants into the Australian workforce. This conversation highlighted the mutual benefits of hiring displaced talent, from filling critical labour gaps to enhancing workplace diversity and achieving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.
The roundtable brought forward a wealth of perspectives. TBB’s Global CEO, Steph Cousins, shared insights on the collaboration between TBB, IOM, and partners like EY, emphasizing the collective effort to break down barriers for displaced talent. The private sector's role in supporting migration, through hiring and advocacy for expanded visa pathways, was a recurring theme, showcasing the enormous potential for a "triple win" — for the individuals, their families, and the global economy.
“Millions of displaced people are being warehoused around the world in countries where they cannot rebuild their lives, despite their skills. With climate change, we know many millions more will have to move. Together with the private sector, we have a chance to transform this challenge into an opportunity for a triple win - for displaced people, their families, and economies around the world. The private sector has a crucial role to play - by hiring displaced people from abroad, supporting their migration, and helping to advocate for the expansion of regular visa pathways for displaced talent.”
National Press Club Address: A Bold Vision for Migration
Our team flew over to Canberra to attend Amy Pope’s Address to the National Press Club of Australia, where she shared her insights on the potential of migrants, despite the recent wave of negative discourse against immigration. Pope’s speech offered a comprehensive view of the current migration narrative and a forward-looking perspective on how Australia and the global community can benefit from embracing migration.
Reframing the Migration Narrative
Pope addressed the negative perceptions that currently dominate the migration debate, emphasizing the discrepancy between the fearful, crisis-driven portrayal of migration and the reality of its potential benefits. She critiqued the focus on the negative aspects of migration, urging a shift towards a more holistic and positive understanding that recognizes migration's contribution to communities worldwide.
“Far too often, we get stuck discussing one narrow slice of the migration journey. What happens when people get stuck at borders? What happens when people can’t get returned? What happens when lives are tragically lost at sea? What happens when a host community feels overwhelmed or when migration feels like a threat? But that’s not the whole picture. In fact, that’s a tiny piece of the big picture.”
Migration at a Crossroads
Pope outlined the current global stance on migration, noting its central role in political agendas worldwide. She pointed out the polarizing effect of migration narratives across the globe. Despite these challenges, Pope expressed the continued importance of leveraging the political, economic, and social benefits of migration, driven by the belief in its enormous potential for long-lasting growth.
“Migration is on the ballot of nearly every single country around the world. It is a central theme, influencing political agendas, and shaping the future of nations.”
The importance of safe, regular pathways
Pope argued for a constructive and sensible debate on migration, highlighting missed opportunities due to negative discourse. Last year, there were labour shortages in 30 of the top economies globally, and the pressure of aging populations is only going to grow the competition for talent. She advocated for understanding and leveraging the political and economic benefits of migration, stressing that a reductionist view overlooks migration's merits. The speech emphasized the necessity for safe, regular migration pathways to address the needs of both migrants and host countries as migration must play a pivotal role in future economic development.
“Migration will be part of that solution. We also know that it’s not just about alleviating current labour shortages: it’s about driving innovation, revitalizing ailing economies, providing companies and countries with future sustainable development strategies and a strategic advantage in the world.”
TBB’s collaboration with IOM
Highlighting our continuous collaboration, Pope showcased how TBB's work in matching refugees with job opportunities exemplifies the positive impact of strategic migration policies. This partnership addresses labor shortages and enriches communities by harnessing diverse talents and perspectives.
“My first day here, I spent maybe five hours in Melbourne, where I had the great opportunity to engage with our friends and partners at Talent Beyond Boundaries. If you don’t know them, you’ve got to get to know them. They are an organization that matches refugees with jobs.”
TBB was the first organization in the world to focus on refugee labour mobility as a complementary pathway, actively working with multiple governments to establish skilled admission programs for displaced people. To date, seven countries have already established displaced talent mobility pilots, five more countries are adopting them in 2024, and one country, Canada, recently committed to making their pilot a permanent economic immigration program.
In Australia, TBB works with the Australian Government to deliver the Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, a program that enables businesses to hire and sponsor the work visas of skilled refugees. So far TBB has worked with 166 Australian employers across 25 sectors – including Atlassian, Bupa, Canva, CultureAmp, Harvey Beef and Qantas – to hire more than 200 refugees to fill in key labour shortages across the nation.
Under Amy Pope’s leadership, IOM has sharpened its strategic focus on opening regular pathways for displaced people, paving the way for governments and private sector leaders to be active participants in the labour mobility movement.
IOM Director General Amy Pope (left) with TBB Global CEO Steph Cousins (right) at the National Press Club of Australia.
Seizing the potential of refugee labor mobility
Last week served as a powerful reminder of migration's potential for solving global challenges. By reframing the narrative and focusing on strategic, humane policies, we can unlock a future where migration is not seen as a problem but as a key part of the solution.
TBB calls on individuals, businesses, and policymakers to seize the immense potential of refugee labour mobility. By supporting initiatives that create regular pathways for displaced talent or by hiring refugees, we can address global labour shortages, drive economic growth, and offer people the chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
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