Thom Woodroofe

Thom Woodroofe is the Chief of Staff to the President & CEO of the Asia Society, the Hon. Kevin Rudd AC, and is a fellow of the Asia Society Policy Institute where he works on U.S.-China climate cooperation, China’s climate diplomacy, and Asia’s transition to net-zero emissions.

Prior to joining the Asia Society in January 2020, Thom worked as an Associate Director at Independent Diplomat, a non-profit diplomatic advisory firm supporting some of the world’s most marginalized countries and political actors. In this role, Thom helped the Marshall Islands play a key role in securing the Paris Agreement on climate change including through acting as an advisor to the country’s President and Foreign Minister and helping them form the High Ambition Coalition of progressive nations. He later led the firm’s work with Rohingya politicians and refugees from Myanmar.

Thom is a regular media commentator and writer having published over 100 opinion pieces and research papers. As the founder of two national organizations in Australia, Thom has previously been recognized as the Young Victorian of the Year. He is also a regular participant in the Australian American Leadership Dialogue and a Patron of the Castlemaine State Festival held in his hometown.

Thom studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and is also a graduate of Monash and Melbourne universities. He has completed a United Nations Fellowship on Peacemaking & Preventative Diplomacy.

Email: TWoodroofe@asiasociety.org

Twitter: @thomwoodroofe