Seminars on Australian International Diplomacy and Security

Mr Ian Kemish AM, former Australian Ambassador to Germany and Switzerland, and most recently, High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, is presently an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics. A UQ History Honours graduate, Mr Kemish began his career as a Foreign Service Trainee in 1988. He has also served overseas in New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam and in Vienna - where he covered the newly emerging countries of former Yugoslavia. Mr Kemish was also, in 2004-5, Head of the International Division in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Mr Kemish’s service at headquarters in Canberra has seen a strong focus on Australia’s relations with the Asia Pacific, particularly South East Asia and PNG, and, as Head of the Consular Service from 2000 to 2004, on crisis management. He was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia for his leadership of Australia’s multi-jurisdictional response to Australia’s worst offshore consular disaster, the 2002 Bali bombings.

In his first seminar Mr Kemish will outline the roles, responsibilities and relationships between the key federal national security agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Office of National Assessments (ONA), the Department of Defence, AusAID, the Australian Federal Police and other security and intelligence agencies. He will outline and respond to specific enquiry about graduate recruitment and entry requirements.

In his second seminar Mr Kemish will draw on his own career experience to reflect in a personal way on the role of our diplomatic and consular representatives in advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally, including during times of crisis. This is your chance to meet with an experienced serving diplomat and to be introduced to the complex work of Australian foreign security and economic policy. 

Attendance is limited and is open, by invitation, to Honours and RHD students through application to the Schools of:

• History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics
• English, Media Studies and Art History
• Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies
• Political Science and International Studies