Australia's prominent business and political figures are notably absent from this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland, despite the organisation claiming record attendance.
The Australian Government is not sending any ministers to the event, which began on Monday.
The highest-ranking Australian official attending is former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, serving as ambassador to Washington.
Representation from mining sector
Despite the high-profile nature of the event, the Australian presence is limited. BHP (ASX:BHP)'s Mike Henry and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO)'s Jakob Stausholm are among the notable attendees, alongside other executives from major Australian companies.
The absence of Australian bankers is contrasted by the participation of prominent Australian figures in the Wall Street banking sector.
This diminished participation from Australia reflects the WEF's ongoing challenge in drawing top Western leaders to its flagship event.
Notable attendees
Notably, French President Emmanuel Macron is among the few G7 leaders attending, with other nations like the US, Britain, Germany, Japan, Canada and Italy not represented by their top officials.
The WEF is instead showcasing leaders from emerging global powers, featuring Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Argentina’s President Javier Milei, among others.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will also participate, as the forum aims to facilitate discussions on critical issues, particularly the situation in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is another key attendee, intensifying efforts to engage leaders from non-Western nations.
Complex geopolitical and geoeconomic context
WEF chief executive Borge Brende underscored the complex geopolitical and geoeconomic context of this year's summit, mirroring sentiments expressed in the previous year.
This repetition indicates a possible waning of the forum's appeal, especially in affluent countries.
This year, the event's focus is on geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.