15 Minutes in Canberra

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in foreign policy? Canberra is buzzing with seasoned foreign affairs and strategic policy experts, but for newcomers and mid-tier professionals, the ‘Canberra bubble’ can be tricky to navigate.

Join host Hayley Channer on the ground as she speaks with colleagues from government, academia, and the private sector, to bring you their unique policy insights and career advice in a neat 15 minutes.  

Based in Canberra, Australia, Hayley Channer is a Senior Policy Fellow at the Perth USAsia Centre.

What it’s like to be an Australian diplomat in New Delhi

Ben Sakker Kelly was living in Canberra – a city of 350,000 people – until his role with the Department of Education and Training catapulted him into a position at Australia’s High Commission in New Delhi – a city of more than 26 million.

Over a three-and-a-half year period between 2013 and 2017 Ben experienced it all, from working closely with Indian locals, adjusting to having a housekeeper and guards, protecting Australian cricketers from rapturous Indian fans, and getting to work alongside elephants.

In this episode of , hear about Ben’s diplomatic life in New Delhi, including the ins-and-outs of embassy life, India’s incredible social and geographic diversity, and navigating its complicated bureaucratic system.