4th November 2015 Canberra, Australia
Each year the British High Commission in Canberra helps Indigenous Australian scholars to study in the UK by lending the support of our Chevening Scholarships scheme to the Charlie Perkins Trust. We asked three of these remarkable young people – Jessica Buck, Jessyca Hutchens and Tamara Murdock – to take part in the Women of the Future […]
29th October 2015 Canberra, Australia
Last Monday I was at Parliament House in Canberra for the première of the wonderful British film Suffragette. The evening featured two fantastic performances, the first by Carey Mulligan in the film’s lead role – surely worthy of an Oscar nomination at least. The second was by Ian Smith, our Honorary Consul for South Australia. Epsom-born […]
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2nd October 2015 Canberra, Australia
Through my work in climate diplomacy, I’ve learned that it’s often very difficult to get countries to agree on things. So when they do, it’s cause for celebration. Especially when they agree on important things, like an ambitious and hopeful vision of what the world should look like 15 years from now. On 25 September this […]
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23rd September 2015 Canberra, Australia
As the Australian representative for the UK Science and Innovation Network one of my responsibilities is to promote the UK’s scientific excellence in Australia. Fortunately for me, both countries have a long history of collaboration and an excellent pedigree in science. I am proud to promote the achievements of both my native and (professionally) adopted […]
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28th August 2015 Canberra, Australia
Brisbane is a riot of colour, from the frangipanis to the flame trees and the blooming Jacarandas (nicknamed students’ ruin because if you haven’t started revising for your exams by the time their purple flowers bloom – it’s probably too late!). I am standing outside a hotel in the city centre – that moment all […]
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12th August 2015 Canberra, Australia
The term “cricket tragic” is often heard in Australia. I consider myself to be more of a cricket melodramatic – basically a tragic, but with the occasional bout of euphoria thrown in. One such bout took place last week. Ask my wife. Last month we celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. The wedding took place on […]
29th July 2015 Canberra, Australia
I have been travelling a lot in the last few weeks, which has made me reflect on what is ‘home’ and what is ‘away’. Let’s just say it’s not so simple as for the residents of Summer Bay! First of all, as a diplomat, it doesn’t help to become too attached to one place, because […]
2nd July 2015 Canberra, Australia
What do you get if you put 30 academics and diplomats in a room for two days? No, this is not the start of some lame joke about hot air, or people thinking twice before saying nothing, it’s what happened in Sydney recently. I was part of the second Australia-UK track 1.5 Asia Dialogue last week. […]
30th June 2015 Canberra, Australia
Over the last two weeks, I’ve taken part in a number of events to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. My personal highlight was undoubtedly introducing Prime Minister Tony Abbott to an audience of over 300 people in Parliament’s Great Hall, to deliver the British High Commission’s annual Magna Carta lecture. As I said […]
12th June 2015 Canberra, Australia
Very often when I tell people about my job, their reaction is puzzlement. ‘So you work on climate change stuff in Australia?’ ‘Yep.’ (and energy policy, and a few other things) ‘But you work for the UK government?’ ‘Yep.’ ‘So… why does the UK employ someone in Australia to work on climate change?’ When I […]