On Wednesday 26 July 2023, The Hon Julie Bishop (Chancellor of the Australian National University and Former Minister for Foreign Affairs) delivered the 2023 ‘Australia and the World’ Annual Lecture: ‘Megatrends in a rapidly changing global environment’ at the National Press Club of Australia.

The sold-out event was broadcast live across the nation via ABC News and Sky News Australia. The lecture was moderated by AuSI's Professor Mark Kenny with ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian P. Schmidt AC FAA FRS formally introducing the Chancellor.

In case you missed it

Watch the lecture on ABC iview or via YouTube.

About the Lecture

'Megatrends in a rapidly changing global environment'

ANU Chancellor, The Hon Julie Bishop, will discuss the implications of a number of ‘megatrends’ that have important implications for Australia and the international community. These are the issues that can bring fundamental change to the economy, educational institutions, governance and our daily lives.

The address will include personal observations and will draw on Ms Bishop’s experiences and knowledge from five years as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

About the Speaker

The Hon Julie Bishop is Chancellor of the Australian National University, appointed in 2020.

Ms Bishop served as Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2013 until 2018. She was the first female to hold the role as well as the first female Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, serving for 11 years.

As Foreign Minister, Ms Bishop was responsible for strengthening Australia's key strategic and economic relationships with Ministerial responsibility for more than 5,000 departmental staff, 110 overseas missions, and several government agencies, including the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research.

In 2014, she led the international response to the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine and was awarded the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Under her leadership, the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper was developed, providing a comprehensive policy framework for the next decade. The New Colombo Plan was established, enabling Australian undergraduates to live, study and work in the Indo-Pacific region. Within five years, more than 40,000 students have participated in the Plan.

In a political career spanning over 20 years, Julie served as Minister for Education, Science and Training, Minister for Women's Issues and Minister for Ageing.

Prior to entering politics, Ms Bishop was Managing Partner of the National law firm Clayton Utz in Perth.

In 2017, the University of Adelaide awarded Ms Bishop the Honorary Degree of Doctor of the University for her contribution to Australian parliamentary service, and in 2020 she was also awarded an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University.

In 2020 Julie was awarded a Fisher Family Fellowship for the Future of Diplomacy Project at Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs. In 2021 Julie was awarded the Kissinger Fellowship at the McCain Institute of International Leadership at Arizona State University. In 2021, the UK Government appointed Julie to the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC). She is also a member of the Trilateral Commission Capitalism Task Force.

In 2022 Ms Bishop was awarded the Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop AsiaLink Medal for her contribution to Australian diplomacy, women's empowerment and Australia's integration with the Indo-Pacific. In 2023 Julie has joined David Jones as an official Friend of the brand.

Julie is Chair of the Board of Prince's Trust Australia, Trustee of Prince's Trust Group Company, Chair of the Board of Telethon Kids Institute, Member of the International Advisory Board of Council on Foreign Relations and  Afiniti.

She is the also the Patron of Shooting Stars (an education programme for young aboriginal girls) and an ambassador for Football Australia's Legacy '23 program in the lead up to the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.

She has also established a boutique consultancy, Julie Bishop and Partners, offering strategic advisory services.