Surveyors Australia and ASEAN FLAG to strengthen regional ties through a new partnership.
Surveyors Australia and the ASEAN Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics, ASEAN FLAG, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration between surveying professionals across Australia and Southeast Asia.
The agreement was announced during the South East Asia Survey Congress, SEASC 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, as ASEAN FLAG celebrates 30 years of connecting and advancing the surveying and geomatics profession across the region.
The MoU establishes a framework for Surveyors Australia and ASEAN FLAG to work together on areas including:
- professional development
- education and skills
- knowledge exchange
- professional mobility
- emerging technologies
- standards, and
- stronger connections between surveying professionals and businesses.
Developing enduring connections
Surveyors Australia President, Cameron Mills, said the agreement represented an important step in strengthening Australia’s professional relationships with its Southeast Asian neighbours.
“Surveying is increasingly an international profession. Our people, technology, businesses and major projects operate across borders, and the challenges we face in developing skills and professional capability are shared across our region.”
“This agreement provides a practical framework for Australian surveyors to build stronger relationships with our ASEAN colleagues, share knowledge and create new professional and business opportunities.”
ASEAN FLAG President, LSr Shaharuddin bin Musa, said the agreement reflected ASEAN FLAG’s commitment to collaboration and the continued development of the profession across the region.
“As ASEAN FLAG celebrates 30 years, it is fitting that we are also looking ahead to the next chapter of regional cooperation.”
“Our relationship with Surveyors Australia expands the opportunity for our surveying and geomatics communities to learn from one another, strengthen professional capability and develop enduring connections between professionals across ASEAN and Australia.”
Surveyors Australia and ASEAN FLAG: A genuine partnership
Surveyors Australia’s CEO, Michelle Blicavs, said the agreement also aligned with Australia’s broader efforts to deepen its relationships with Southeast Asia.
“Australia is making a deliberate effort to strengthen its economic, professional and people to people relationships with ASEAN countries. Our profession has an opportunity to contribute directly to that.”
“Government can create the framework for stronger regional relationships, but ultimately those relationships are built by people, professions and businesses working together.”
“For Surveyors Australia, the opportunity comes down to three things: people, knowledge and influence. We want to connect our people, share our knowledge and together strengthen the contribution and influence of the surveying profession across our region.”
Ms Blicavs said surveying had an important role to play in the continued growth of both Australia and Southeast Asia.
“Across our region we are investing in housing, infrastructure, transport, land administration, technology and the development of our cities and communities. Surveyors are fundamental to all of that.”
“This MoU is not about Australia bringing solutions to ASEAN. It is a genuine partnership. Australia has expertise we can share and there is an enormous amount that Australian surveyors can learn from our ASEAN colleagues.”
The organisations will now identify practical initiatives under the agreement, including opportunities for professional exchanges, continuing professional development, research, events, young surveyor engagement and collaboration on emerging issues affecting the profession.
The signing at SEASC 2026 comes during ASEAN FLAG’s 30th anniversary celebrations and marks a further strengthening of ties between the Australian and Southeast Asian surveying communities.
