In the first of our Semester One 2021 Bell School Postgraduate Seminar Series (alternating between in person and online each week) we will tackle the big themes of 2021 in global and Asia-Pacific politics. Guest speakers Prof. Bina D’Costa, Prof. John Blaxland, Assoc. Prof. Greg Fealy and Dr. Julien Barbara will reflect on the global and regional themes that are going to shape 2021.

Speakers

Bina D’Costa is Professor in the Department of International Relations in the Coral Bell School. At the height of Europe’s refugee emergency, she moved to UNICEF’s Office of Research-Innocenti as its senior migration and displacement research specialist to build its Migration and Displacement program (2016 - 18). Most recently, she has served in UNICEF’s Rohingya Emergency Response Team in Cox’s Bazar Bangladesh.

John Blaxland is Professor of International Security and Intelligence Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre in the Coral Bell School. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales. In addition, he is a member of the Australian Army Journal editorial board and a regular commentator in the print, television and radio media. He is a US Department of Defense Minerva Research Initiative grant recipient, and speaks English, Thai and Spanish.

Greg Fealy is a scholar of Indonesian politics and history, who specialises in Islam. He has written extensively on the politics and culture of major Islamic parties and organisations such as Nahdlatul Ulama, PKS and Hizbut Tahrir, as well as jihadist groups. He has received two ARC grants to study religious commodification and Indonesian terrorism. He has a particular interest in Islamic political doctrines, Islamisation processes and the role of religion in democratic systems.

Julien Barbara is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs in the Coral Bell School. From 2000 to 2013 he worked in a variety of policy positions in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Agency for International Development. From 2010 to 2012 Julien was seconded to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands where he directed the Machinery of Government Program.

* For more information, contact the Series Convener, Dr Mathew Davies, mathew.davies@anu.edu.au.