Professor Russell Trood has been appointed Director of the Griffith Asia Institute.
Announcing the appointment, Pro Vice Chancellor (Business) Professor Michael Powell said Russell Trood brought vital firsthand knowledge and experience from the field of international relations to his new role.
“I’m honoured to accept this important position,” Professor Trood said. “When Griffith University first opened its doors 40 years ago, it had an immediate and strong focus on Asia. That focus has sharpened through the years and with the onset of the Asian Century, the Griffith Asia Institute has already shown it is ready to lead a new period of engagement with modern Asia.
“As the Asia-Pacific landscape evolves it is important to revisit and strengthen international ties and to review existing initiatives and collaborations with a view to informed progress. I look forward to the challenge.”
Professor Trood’s long and distinguished academic career has had a particular focus on Australia’s relations with Asia. He is currently President of the United Nations Association of Australia and had a period as the Director of the Centre for the Study of Australia Asia Relations.
He was formerly a Senator for Queensland in the Australian Parliament where he served as Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Until 2012 he was also the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Australia.
“Professor Trood has a unique understanding of the Asia-Pacific region,” Professor Powell (left) said.
“He is ideally positioned to lead the Griffith Asia Institute forward, to build existing relationships and to forge important new connections.
“The Griffith Business School has demonstrated a strong and important commitment to the Asia region and Asian studies for many years and this appointment both confirms and consolidates our commitment.”
Professor Trood has been a Visiting Fellow at the Lowy Institute for International Policy and an Adjunct Professor at the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney. He has also been a member of the Boards of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, the National Library of Australia,the Foreign Affairs Council, the Australian Indonesia Institute and is currently on the Board of the Australia American Fulbright Commission.
Professor Trood has published extensively on international relations, Australian foreign and defence policy and Asian security, including The emerging global order: Australian Foreign Policy in the 21st Century (2008). His most recent works have been on Japanese security policy, Australian foreign policy, the G20 Summit, Australia’s public diplomacy in Asia and Australian defence policy.
The Griffith Asia Institute promotes links with government and industry in contemporary Asia and the South Pacific and its high-quality research and analysis informs political and economic policy in the region. Its researchers and students are at the forefront of national and international dialogue in a range of fields including security, human protection, international business and natural disaster management.
Asian engagement is promoted through a number of high profile workshops, publications, public lectures, seminars and key dialogues.