INSIGHTS

YAIA's blog, Insights, is a platform aimed at promoting the voice of emerging young Australians in the analysis and commentary of international affairs. We accept submissions for articles for publication on Insights on a rolling basis.

May 13, 2022
5 min

Careers Insights: Leading the international charge for climate action

Signing of the Paris Agreement: Source - UNFCCC In this latest edition of Careers Insights, YAIA Careers Officer Kelsey Gray delves into the dynamic field of climate diplomacy and politics, and explores the various options available for young people looking to have an international career with a positive impact for future generations. Climate change is a global problem with contemporaneous global impacts. As a truly ‘wicked problem’, its impacts are not constrained to just cl

Oct 25, 2021
5 min

Career Spotlight: Professor Rory Medcalf, Head of the National Security College, ANU

In this Career Spotlight, we are honoured to speak with Professor Rory Medcalf, Head of the ANU National Security College, about his influential and impactful career in national security and international relations. Rory Medcalf is Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. His career spans diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, academia and journalism, including as Founding Director of the security program at the Lowy Institute. In g

Sep 20, 2021
5 min

Career Spotlight: Gem Romuld, Australian Director, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

In this Career Spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Gem Romuld, an impassioned advocate leading Australia’s push to draw attention to the catastrophic threat to humanity that nuclear weapons pose. Gem Romuld is the Australian Director the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons and Director of Quit Nukes. As ICAN Director, she leads the campaign and volunteers working to lobby Canberra to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon

Jul 27, 2021
6 min

Career Spotlight: Caitlin Gauci, Research Associate, Lowy Institute

In this Career Spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Caitlin Gauci, Research Associate in the Pacific Island Program at the Lowy Institute, about her career to date in international policy. Caitlin Gauci is a Research Associate in the Pacific Island Program at the Lowy Institute. Before joining the Institute, Caitlin was a policy adviser at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to her work in government,

Jul 10, 2021
5 min

Career Spotlight: Liz Mackie, Senior Trade Policy Officer, British High Commission in Canberra

In this Career Spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Liz Mackie, Senior Trade Policy Officer at the British High Commission in Canberra, about her career across a wide range of British foreign policy. Liz is a Senior Trade Policy Officer at the British High Commission, where she advises the UK Government on services, financial services, investment and intellectual property trade policy in relation to the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and leads bilateral engage

May 21, 2021
5 min

Career Insights: CALD Australians, a New View of a 'True Blue' in Australian International Affairs

In this edition of Careers Insights, YAIA Careers Officer Bayan Yazdani explores the unique challenges and opportunities for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Australians interested in pursuing a career in international affairs. Australia is a proudly multicultural nation, with over half the population either born overseas or having at least one parent who was. However, it is no secret that the diversity of the Australian population is not yet fully reflected in it

Apr 23, 2021
7 min

Career Spotlight: Dana Throssell, Consultant, KPMG

In this Career Spotlight, we have the unique opportunity of speaking with Dana Throssell, Consultant at KPMG, about her South-East Asian expertise and insights into international security, human rights, and humanitarian affairs. A recent graduate focusing on policy and program consulting at KPMG, Dana’s unorthodox pivot to the private sector exemplifies the widespread applications of nuanced knowledge in international security and humanitarian affairs. Since undertaking a Bac

Apr 11, 2021
6 min

Career Insights: What You Need to Know for Graduate Recruitment to the Federal Government

In this Career Insights blog, YAIA’s Careers Officer Kate Purcell outlines the graduate recruitment process for the public service and explores strategies for success. As we near the end of our academic career, we naturally turn our minds to jobs. The Australian Public Service is the largest and most diverse employer in Australia. A career as a public servant or working closely with the public sector can open opportunities to have a diverse career and make a real impact on th

Apr 11, 2021
5 min

Career Insights: Graduate Programs in International Affairs (Updated for 2022)

In this Career Insights piece we share a key list of graduate programs for those interested in a career in international affairs. Graduate programs are a popular way to recruit talented entry-level candidates into the workforce. Graduate programs can be a fantastic way to get into the workforce for those just finishing their studies or with limited work experience, as programs often offer a range of training and professional-development opportunities as well as the opportunit

Mar 7, 2021
20 min

2021 Young Women to Watch in International Affairs

In celebration of this year's International Women's Day, Young Australians in International Affairs is delighted to announce our list of Young Women to Watch in International Affairs for 2021. The list seeks to shine a spotlight on young Australian women making a name for themselves in government, academia, think tanks, the private sector and civil society across the broad horizon of international affairs - whether it be in foreign policy, national security, international aid

Feb 11, 2021
3 min

Career Insights: Volunteer in international affairs to turbocharge your career

In this Career Insights blog, YAIA’s Careers Director Lauren Twine explores the value of volunteering for your professional and personal development and shares a list of organisations where you can find opportunities to volunteer in the field of international affairs. Whether you’re a university student looking to boost your employability, or a young professional looking to specialise in or pivot into international affairs, taking on a volunteer role in the sector may be the

Feb 3, 2021
4 min

Career Spotlight: His Excellency Mr Gregory Andrews, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana

In this Career Spotlight, we have the privilege of speaking with His Excellency Mr Gregory Andrews, Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, about his career across public policy and foreign affairs. Mr Andrews currently serves as the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, accredited to nine West African countries in total, including Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. He was most recently Assistant Secretary, International

Jan 31, 2021
9 min

Career Spotlight: Clarice Campbell, South-East Asia Director TAFE Victoria, National President AIYA

In our latest Career Spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Clarice Campbell, Director of TAFE Victoria (South-East Asia) and National President of the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA), about her exciting career in international trade and education, as well as her leadership in youth diplomacy. Deservingly recognised as one of YAIA’s Young Women to Watch in International Affairs in 2020, Ms Campbell is a resilient leader and inspiring role model in Austr

Jan 22, 2021
7 min

Career Insights: Rejection, or Retrospection? The Blessing We Fear

In our latest Career Insights blog, YAIA’s Careers Officer Bayan Yazdani shares his experiences of rejection, and how they can help us find our path – and perhaps something even better. Rejection is never easy, and in the field of international affairs, it is never rare either. For essentially all of us, rejection is something we will inevitably face in our pursuit to where we want to be – but that certainly doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult. Rejection sucks – there is no under

Jan 14, 2021
7 min

Career Spotlight: Gönül Serbest, Chief Executive Officer of Global Victoria

In this Career Spotlight, we have the privileged opportunity to gain insight from Gönül Serbest, CEO of Global Victoria, part of the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions in the State Government of Victoria, about her outstanding career in international trade so far. Gönül Serbest is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Global Victoria responsible for leading the Government’s global engagement efforts. As part of this role, she manages the State’s international networ

Oct 29, 2020
3 min

Career Spotlight: Dr. Zac Rogers, Research Lead, Jeff Bleich Centre at Flinders University

In this Career Spotlight, we have the unique opportunity to gain insight from Dr. Zac Rogers, Research Lead at the Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Governance at Flinders University, about his dynamic career in academia and research concerning international affairs and emerging security challenges. Dr. Zac Rogers is the Research Lead of the new Jeff Bleich Centre (JBC) at Flinders University, founded by former US Ambassador to Austra

Oct 20, 2020
4 min

Career Insights: Writing a standout cover letter to land your next role

Image Source: pxfuel In our latest Career Insights blog, YAIA’s Careers Officer Kate Purcell discusses how to prepare an effective and authentic cover letter that will help you land your next role or opportunity. A strong and effective cover letter is often your best opportunity to make a positive impression with a prospective employer. Yet many job applicants underestimate the value of a well-written cover letter, instead focusing almost exclusively on their curriculum vitae

Sep 30, 2020
4 min

Career Spotlight: Daniel Flitton, Managing Editor of The Interpreter, Lowy Institute

In this Career Spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Daniel Flitton, Managing Editor of The Interpreter at the Lowy Institute, about his career in foreign affairs across journalism, the public sector and academia. Daniel Flitton is one of Australia’s most experienced foreign affairs journalists and is now Managing Editor of the Lowy Institute’s international magazine, The Interpreter. Before joining the Institute, he was diplomatic editor and senior correspondent a

Sep 2, 2020
6 min

Career Spotlight: Dr Alexandra Phelan, Deputy Director of Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre

In this Career Spotlight, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr Alexandra Phelan, Deputy Director of Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre, and Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, about her career so far in international relations, focusing upon Latin America and Gender, Peace and Security. Dr Alexandra Phelan is Deputy Director of Monash Gender, Peace and Security Centre (Monash GPS), and a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Monash Univer

Aug 25, 2020
4 min

Career Insights: Preparing your CV for success in your job search

In our latest Career Insights blog, YAIA’s Careers Director Lauren Twine discusses techniques for preparing and refining your curriculum vitae for your job search, whether in Australia or overseas. Your curriculum vitae (CV) is generally the first impression that an employer forms of you, and research shows that it is often made within a matter of seconds. As such, you need to make your CV stands out, yet is simple to absorb, in order that an employer flicking through potenti