Dr. Rory Medcalf

Biography

Professor Rory Medcalf is the Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. His professional background includes decades of experience in diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, academia, and journalism. Medcalf was the founding Director of the International Security Program at the Lowy Institute from 2007 to 2015. He has also worked as a senior strategic analyst at the Office of National Assessments (now Office of National Intelligence) and served as an Australian diplomat with postings in New Delhi, alongside a secondment to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has contributed to significant reports on nuclear arms control, including the Canberra Commission in 1996 and the Tokyo Forum in 1999. Medcalf is a prominent figure in developing Australia’s relations with India and is recognized as a thought leader internationally on issues related to the Indo-Pacific and Asian strategic environments. He has published extensively, including the book 'Contest of the Indo-Pacific' released internationally and translated into Japanese and Chinese. He is a member of various expert panels and editorial boards, contributing to the discussions on Australia's national security and geopolitics.

Research Interests