Our People
Meet the team behind the mission.
Our people are at the heart of everything we do – driving research, engagement and education to advance Australia’s understanding of the Indo-Pacific.
From policy experts to communications professionals, our diverse and dedicated team works collaboratively to strengthen strategic thinking between Australia, the Indo-Pacific and the United States.
Based at The University of Western Australia, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit institution committed to fostering stronger regional connections and building informed communities.
Leadership
Prof. Gordon Flake
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Lisa Cluett
Chief Engagement Officer
Shelby Crookes
Chief Operating Officer
The Team
Nelia Amenabar
Finance Manager
Renee Chalon
Head of Content and Analysis
Parisa De Jonge
Communications and Marketing Manager
Melinda Mounsey
Education and Engagement Manager
Therese Sanders
Business Manager
Bella Benjamin
Stakeholder Relations Officer
Jeffrey Choong
Finance Officer
Christine Denford
Executive Coordinator
Amy Doherty
Marketing and Communications Officer
Kathryn Froend
Content and Analysis Officer
Aurelie Jammes
Senior Coordinator Events & Logistics
Jeremy Sweeting
Digital Content Creation Officer
Centre Fellows
Daein Cha
Senior Research Adviser
(Energy)
Dr Pia Dannhauer
Senior Research Fellow
(Southeast Asia
& Indo-Pacific Security)
Abraham Denmark
Principal Research Adviser
(Australia-US Alliance)
Jasmin Diab
Senior Research Adviser
(Nuclear Technologies)
Dr Andrew Dowse AO
Principal Research Adviser (Defence and Security Strategy)
Hangga Fathana
Senior Research Fellow (Indonesia-Australia relations)
Jo Feldman
Senior Fellow
(Geopolitics and Trade)
Jisoo Kim
Senior Research Fellow (AI and Emerging Technologies)
Sarah Leary
Senior Research Adviser
(First Nations Foreign Policy)
Dr Iain MacGillivray
Senior Research Fellow (International Affairs and Defence Strategy)
This affiliation is hosted as part of a collaboration with RAND Australia.
Aaron Magunna
Associate Research Fellow (Economic Security)
Professor Kirsten Martinus
Senior Research Adviser (Regional development and resilience)
Andrew Pickford
Principal Research Adviser
(Resources and Infrastructure)
Paula Rogers
Principal Program Adviser (International Partnerships and Engagement)
Manohar Thyagaraj
Senior Research Fellow (US Relations and Indo-Pacific Strategy)
Jenny Winata
Associate Research Fellow (Australia-Indonesia Relations)
Board of Directors
Stephen Smith
Chair
Former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Hon Kim Beazley AC
Emeritus Director
Former Australian Ambassador to the United States
Deidre Willmott
Deputy Chair
Non-executive Director
Prof. Amit Chakma
Director
Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia
Hon Richard Court AC
Director
Former Ambassador
of Australia to Japan
Prof. Gordon Flake
Director
CEO at the
Perth USAsia Centre
Dr Michael J Green
Director
CEO at the
United States Studies Centre
Lynn Kuok
Director
Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies, Brookings Institution
Paul Myler
Director
Founder and Managing Director at StratQ
Clare Pope
Director
Partner at
Gilbert + Tobin
Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO
Director
Former Australian Ambassador to the United States and Chair at the United States Studies Centre
Audit, Risk & Remuneration Committee
Deidre Willmott
Chair
Non-executive Director
Geoff Lotter
Committee Member
Non-executive Director
Paul Myler
Committee Member
Founder and Managing Director at StratQ
Clare Pope
Committee Member
Partner at
Gilbert + Tobin