As an Australian going to the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA) for the first time, you will encounter something you never expected at an international arts conference: evidence of Australia’s dominance in this artistic genre.

It is a reflection on how we view our country’s role in the in the art world that one of the most surprising aspects of ISEA is the overwhelming number of Australians that are presenting papers, exhibitions and workshops. International leadership is something that you don’t expect as an Australian; it is not a word often found in an arts and cultural dialogue in our country. But in the area of art, science and technology, Australian art is the milestone of world–class endeavour and Australian practitioners and organisations set the tone and direction for the world. Once you realise this, it becomes absurd for Australian practitioners to pursue an aspirational leadership when the mantle of responsibility for real leadership is so obviously ours.