What set Weary Dunlop apart was a profound compassion and a deep understanding of how the world, especially Asia, affected Australia. He saw the potential of Asia and its people and we now live in the sort of world he envisaged.
In 1993, Paul Keating used this forum to discuss Australia's distinctive role in a growing region. In 1995, John Howard spoke of the economic revolution that had transformed the Asia-Pacific and the need for greater co-operation between its nations. Thanks to this far sighted leadership, Australia has prospered as Asia has risen.
Questions about Asia's direction, and Australia's place, are not new, but the context continues to evolve. China is now the world's top exporter, manufacturer and holder of foreign reserves. While its economy may grow more slowly, it does so off a much larger base. The fundamentals that propel this growth will withstand short-term business cycles and have an enormous influence on the way we all live and work. 
Weary Dunlop once said it's only when people are put at full stretch that they can realise their full potential. We share a duty to operate at full stretch so that Australia fulfils its potential as the world evolves. Australia should be at the heart of Asian affairs and use its unique position to be a catalyst for growth and stability in the region. Succeed and Australia stands to benefit economically, culturally and geopolitically. Fail and other nations will take our place with massive consequences for every Australian.
The "great convergence" of developing Asia, and China in particular, will change the world. Today China, India and Indonesia make up 40 per cent of the world's population. By 2050, these three countries will, in GDP terms, be three of the world's four largest economies. The Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh will all have economies more than double the size of Australia's today. Change on this scale will have major implications.
To assume OECD countries will remain at the forefront of commerce, science, finance and culture by virtue of history is naive and underestimates the speed of Asian development. Asia's emerging economies aren't just catching up, they have begun to lead.
We already see signs of how Asia's emerging economies will follow Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore down this path. As more high-value companies rise from developing Asia, they will transform global commerce, change existing industries and create new ones.
In science, the Pacific will rival the Atlantic in research. China's investment in R&D has already outstripped the EU and will match US levels within four years. Great leaps forward in innovation will be as likely to come from Mumbai or Shanghai, as Silicon Valley.
The world's centre of gravity is steadily shifting east. The global economy could triple in size by 2050 as Asia's developing economies create new financial centres, secure more foreign capital for investment at home, send more domestic capital overseas and move billions of people into the middle class. This will bring more competition plus increased volatility.
It is also vital we understand the environmental impact of Asia's convergence. Sustainable development requires continued growth of emerging economies and a significant reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. It is within our power to contribute to these challenges and benefit from doing so.
Productivity at home is critical. Australia's businesses must operate at full stretch and reach their full potential to thrive. Australia is already an important supplier of commodities to Asia, from iron ore, coking coal and natural gas to beef, wheat and sugar. Our challenge is to remain competitive in these markets and become competitive in new markets.
Australian companies can export more to Asia, use Asia as a hub to export to the world and a place to join global supply chains. If we continue to build on our advantages, Australia is well positioned to attract more investment than many of our competitors.
A sustained, long-term commitment to science, technology, engineering and maths, could make Australia the destination of choice for the next generation of Asian scientists and investors.
Australia's foreign policy will also grow ever more important in a more complex, volatile world. Australia can help create the conditions for its economic success and promote growth, pluralism and stability throughout the region. I believe there are three areas where we can act.
First, Australia should continue to champion free trade. Open markets promote efficiency and reduce the risk of economic imbalances and volatility. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, for instance, promotes transparency, sets common standards, stimulates innovation and reduces commercial tensions between nations. So it's in the region's interest, and Australia's, to bring China, India and Indonesia into the agreement.
Second, Australia should continue to lobby for the constructive reform of the International Monetary Fund and the International Energy Agency. IMF reform has been stalled but we should persevere, a sentiment shared by   September's G20 meeting in Ankara. China and India will dominate global energy demand growth over the next two decades. Neither is a member of the IEA and this is in no one's interest.
Third, Australia should push for a co-ordinated approach to manage climate change in the region. Many countries have made commitments to cut emissions ahead of the Paris summit currently underway. These have been made on a stand-alone basis. The more we work together as a region, the more likely we are to meet these commitments. The Australia-China Joint Co-ordination Group on Clean Coal Technology is one example of the required strong regional collaboration.
Australia has the opportunity and responsibility to take a position of collegial leadership and work with both emerging powers in Asia and established powers in Europe and North America.
We must resist the belief that Australia has to choose between a partnership with the US and a relationship with China. As Dr Michael Fullilove recently said in his Boyer lectures, to reinforce our relationship with America does not mean we should run down our relationship with China.
We have strong links with the US and the European Union. And we enjoy strong bilateral relationships with Asia's major economies both developed and developing.
Not many countries are even able to consider free-trade agreements with China, India, South Korea and Japan, as well as the US and EU. This is a tribute to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Trade Minister Andrew Robb, as well as to generations of politicians, diplomats and business people that stretch back to the Hawke and Keating era.
Leadership is not always easy, as Weary Dunlop well understood. The women and men of this nation are best placed to seize the opportunities the Asian Century will bring. The world is changing. Asia is rising and the future is Australia's to make.This is an edited version of the Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop Lecture 2015 at the Asialink Chairman's Dinner delivered by BHP Billiton CEO Andrew Mackenzie.