The award recognises Peter’s dedication and contribution to the academic community. But what sets Peter apart, as Vice Chancellor Ian Chubb said at the graduation ceremony, is the influence he commands, with his name instantly recognised ‘in the corridors of power and the hallways of knowledge’ around the region. ‘In a way matched by few other academics in the world’, he said, ‘[Peter] has combined scholarship, policy development, regional institution-building and the mentoring of an extraordinarily large number of students from Australia and across the region’. The ANU’s new Chancellor, former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, described Peter as ‘a living national treasure’ and expressed his good fortune at having been able to turn to him for advice when he was in government.

Despite the influence Peter has in scholarship and international economic diplomacy, he puts immense energy into graduate supervision and nurturing young minds, and to providing the research community and policy makers with enduring public goods. The East Asia Forum is just one recent example. He also heads the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research and its sister network, the South Asian Bureau of Economic Research, is head of the Pacific Trade and Development (PAFTAD) International Secretariat and runs the International Economic Databank. And this is seven years into his retirement!

Peter first made his mark in scholarship with his doctoral study of Japan’s economic relationship with Australia, long before it was fashionable to work on Australia’s then recent enemy. Since that time he has been at the forefront of Australia’s engagement with Asia, leading the thinking on issues of importance. Professor Chubb noted his role as ‘the leading intellectual architect of APEC’, and his ‘consistently and unflinchingly robust economic policy analysis, delivered in a manner which commands the respect of all sides of politics – particularly in Canberra, but also in capitals such as Washington, Tokyo, Beijing, Jakarta and New Delhi’.

The ANU has been a fitting base for Peter, because it is one of the few places with the breadth and depth of expertise on Asia that someone of his skill can mobilise and lead. ‘The meeting place’ – the meaning of ‘Canberra’ in the language of the local Ngunnawal people – is a unique place from which scholars like Peter Drysdale and Ross Garnaut have brought people together to help shape the region and Australia’s position in it. Peter’s work speaks for itself, but his dedication and loyalty to his colleagues, friends and students is what sets him apart.

Peter has an unwavering commitment to the stewardship of the next generation of scholars, as evidenced not only by his supervision of some 80 PhD students over his 47-year tenure at ANU, but also by initiatives such as the East Asia Forum’s recent ‘emerging scholar’ competition. The young finalisists were flown to Canberra in July for a Drysdale-style high-level few days in Canberra.

Those who know Peter, and there are many, know he devotes time and energy to his numerous friendships, with an impact throughout the region and the world.

His strength comes from taking risks on good ideas and people, often raising the funds for their initial phases. Personal reward and recognition are not a factor (as we post this tribute on the East Asia Forum he is leading a senior executive training program to Malaysia and Japan).