YAIA Brisbane: A dive into the US election - examining the impact of US politics on Australian foreign policy

In the final countdown to the US presidential election, this panel will unpack this race for office and delve into our bilateral relationship. As a key ally to Australia, the US’ political developments have crucial ramifications for Australia’s foreign policy. Three expert panellists will share their perspectives on what a President Harris or a second-term President Trump will mean for Australian politics and the role that the US-Australia relationship plays in Australia’s approach to security, economics and climate change.

Young Australians in International Affairs is committed to engaging Australian youth in international affairs and building the high calibre leaders necessary to navigate Australia's future in the Indo-Pacific century. If you are interested in or want to learn more about the upcoming US election, this event is for you! You do not need to have any prior experience in US-Australia relations, politics or international affairs to attend.

We are excited to introduce our three panellists for the event - Jeremy, Michael and Dominique! Keep reading to learn more about these fantastic speakers.

Jeremy Dicker

Jeremy is the Managing Editor at Intrigue Media. He started his career with the United Nations in Fiji before serving 14 years in the Australian foreign service, with tours to Mexico, Peru, and the United States. He has degrees in law, the arts, and film, and was awarded Peru's order of merit for distinguished service.

Michael Ondaatje

Michael Ondaatje is Head of the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science, and Professor of History, at Griffith University. Awarded his PhD with Distinction by the University of Western Australia in 2008, Michael is a prize-winning researcher and teacher and a regular commentator on American history and politics in the media. He has been a Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and was selected by the US Embassy in Australia for the International Visitor Leadership Program. He is also a recipient of the Max Crawford Medal - ‘Australia’s most prestigious award for achievement and promise in the humanities’ (Australian Academy of the Humanities) - and a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Michael’s primary research focus is African American history, with a particular emphasis on the history of Black conservatism. Michael also has a strong track record in university leadership. Areas of particular focus have included research strategy, curriculum innovation, student experience, external engagement, and philanthropy.

Dominique Fraser

Dominique is a Research Associate at the Asia Society Policy Institute based in Australia. Her work focuses on the relationship between Europe and Asia and Australia’s foreign policy in Asia. Prior to joining the Policy Institute, Dominique worked in the field of atrocity prevention in Geneva, where she opened the Geneva office of the New York-based Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. She completed a Master in International Affairs at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in International Relations, from which she graduated as Valedictorian of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Queensland. In 2022, she was named a Young Woman to Watch in International Affairs by Young Australians in International Affairs.