Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia

Asia Society Policy Institute

For more than 60 years, the Asia Society has sought to explain the diversity of Asia to the United States and the complexity of the United States to Asia, and to be a bridge in problem-solving within the region and between Asia and the wider world. With a solution-oriented mandate, the Asia Society Policy Institute builds on this mission by tackling major policy challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific in security, prosperity, sustainability, and the development of common norms and values for the region.

Headquartered in New York and led by former Australian Prime Minister the Hon. Kevin Rudd AC, the Asia Society Policy Institute is a think- and do-tank designed to bring forth policy ideas that incorporate the best thinking from leading analysts across the United States and Asia, and to work with policymakers to integrate these ideas and, where possible, give them effect.

The Institute’s Australian presence is working to contribute to an informed public discussion on Australia’s place in Asia and illuminate policy options for decision-makers through policy dialogue, engagement with Australian federal and state governments, published analysis, media, and events. The Institute’s Australian presence also serves to bring Australian perspectives on Asia to the United States and the wider region, as well as to bring American and Asian policy thinking to Australia.
 

Senior Fellow Richard Maude

Richard Maude joined Asia Society Australia in January 2020 as the inaugural Executive Director, Policy, and Senior Fellow, Asia Society Policy Institute – the first senior executive role in the Institute outside the United States. Richard Maude most recently served as Deputy Secretary, Indo-Pacific Group, in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

His portfolio covered Australia’s bilateral relations with Australia’s partners in Asia and North America, as well as Australia’s regional political, security, economic and development assistance interests.

In 2017, Mr Maude was head of the whole-of-government taskforce which supported the preparation of the Australian Government’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. Mr Maude was Director-General of the Office of National Assessments from May 2013 until November 2016.  ONA reports directly to the Prime Minister and provides all-source assessments on international political, strategic and economic developments affecting Australia’s national interests.

Before taking up the position of Director-General ONA, Mr Maude was the senior adviser on foreign policy and national security issues in the Office of the Prime Minister. Mr Maude has worked extensively on international security and Indo Pacific affairs as a career foreign service officer in Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has served overseas in Malaysia, where he was Deputy High Commissioner, Singapore and as the Liaison Officer for the Office of National Assessments in the Australian Embassy in Washington DC.

Mr Maude holds a first class honours degree in politics from the University of Adelaide and a Master of Arts (International Relations) from the Australian National University.

Non-resident Senior Fellow Patrick Suckling

Patrick Suckling is a non-resident Senior Fellow of the Asia Society Policy Institute. Mr. Suckling has over twenty five years foreign, trade and investment, development and climate policy experience. 

He led international policy and engagement for two Prime Ministers as head of International Division, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and served as an Adviser to Foreign Minister Downer. He has been Australia’s High Commissioner to India, served at the Australian Embassy in Washington working on the Australia-U.S. Alliance and been Australia’s Senior Official for APEC. He has led Australia’s consular support for Australians overseas, media and parliamentary engagement for the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, and overseen comprehensive incoming government briefing for two Foreign Ministers and Australia’s Trade Minister. 

Mr. Suckling was most recently Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment, leading on Paris Agreement negotiations, strategy for Australia’s $1 billion climate finance commitment and bilateral cooperation on climate change with key countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. This included chairing the influential Umbrella Group of developed countries - including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Canada - in UNFCCC negotiations for four years. 

He is currently a Senior Partner at Pollination, a specialist climate advisory, and investment firm.

For any media enquiries, please contact Andrew Tijs, Communication and Media Coordinator, Asia Society Australia at atijs@asiasociety.org.