Women in the Alliance

Applications are now open for the 2024-2025 Women in the Alliance Network. See below for details.

Purpose

The agenda of the Australia–US alliance is only growing in scale and ambition, with cooperation deepening in areas including trade and investment, diplomacy and development, defence, space and critical technologies, and climate resilience. The need for a large, diverse and accomplished cohort of experts shaping alliance cooperation is now greater than ever.

Women in the Alliance will bring a more diverse group of voices into the alliance agenda by facilitating cross-border and cross-sectoral dialogue, upskilling the next cohort of leaders and highlighting a diversity of experts in both countries.

Mission

Women in the Alliance focuses on work by women, rather than work about women. By investing in and upskilling the next cohort of leaders on alliance issues, the initiative will ensure diversity is an inherent characteristic of groups working on the Australian and US relationship into the future.

About

The initiative will bring together a diverse group of talented female professionals for exclusive opportunities designed to advance and accelerate their careers, amplify their expertise and expand their professional network.

The initiative revolves around four pillars:

Women in the Alliance Network: A select group of early-career female professionals working in industries relevant to the Australia-US alliance will meet quarterly for closed-door roundtables with experts, professional development opportunities and issues-based workshops.
Visiting Experts: American thought leaders will be invited to Australia to meet with young professionals, researchers and Australian officials to share their insights on our cooperation and grow their profile.
Public Events: US and Australian experts will hold open-door events related to challenges and opportunities for alliance cooperation, connecting accomplished female experts with larger audiences.
Commissioned research: Paid opportunities will be offered to female researchers to write and publish policy-oriented publications on pertinent alliance issues through the United States Studies Centre.

The Women in the Alliance program is supported by funding from the US State Department.

Women in the Alliance Network

Applications are now open for the 2024-2025 Women in the Alliance Network.

The network is a highly accomplished group of female professionals working across industries related to the Australia-US relationship. Over their tenure, network members will receive exclusive opportunities designed to advance and accelerate their careers, amplify their expertise and expand their professional network.

The network meets quarterly for closed-door roundtables with distinguished US and Australian experts, professional development and issues-based workshops. Discussion themes and industries span the remit of the bilateral relationship including defence cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy; investment and trade; technology, innovation and intelligence; climate change, the energy transition and our role in our region.

Through their participation, members of the Women in the Alliance network are equipped to contribute to national and bilateral leadership dialogue about the challenges and opportunities shaping the Australia – US relationship and our region.

Past workshops have featured former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy, Senior Editor for The Australian Financial Review Emma Connors, Australia's Ambassador for Climate Change Kristin Tilley, former Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, and Peter Dean Director of USSC’s Foreign Policy and Defence Program and lead author of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review.

Expressions of interest — now open

The United States Studies Centre is seeking expressions of interest to participate in the next cohort of its Women in the Alliance Network. This group of emerging leaders working across industries related to the Australia-US partnership will meet quarterly for closed-door roundtables with distinguished US and Australian experts and bespoke professional development opportunities to accelerate their careers and amplify their expertise.

In addition, during their one-year tenure, members of the Network may be invited to publish commissioned research, connect with female mentors, attend public events, and participate in issues-based engagements related to their area of expertise.

Interest areas may include defence cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy; investment and trade; domestic politics and democratic processes; cybersecurity and technology; and climate change and development. Functional professional development priorities may include presenting with impact; responding to policy challenges, and crafting joint diplomatic statements.

Members of this group will join a passionate cohort of diverse female leaders contributing to addressing challenges and pursuing opportunities facing the Australia-US relationship and the Indo-Pacific region.

Eligibility criteria:

1-7 years of experience in any sector related to Australia-US relations, including but not limited to government, industry, non-government organisations, academia, journalism and international law.
Demonstrated professional and academic excellence.
Identifies as a woman, non-binary or gender diverse.
Able to attend quarterly workshops in-person in Sydney

Please submit an application to ussc.wita@sydney.edu.au including the following:

Expression of interest, which includes your view of the greatest opportunity or challenge for the Australia-US relationship that you address in your work (up to one page).
CV or resumé.

The deadline for applications is Monday 30 September at 11.59pm.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview.

Publications

The Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023: The key to AUKUS?

Amy McDonnell addresses the benefits and shortfalls of the Australian Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023.

Financing AUKUS Pillar II: Building a multi-sovereign public-private innovation fund

Sophie Mayo assesses the AUKUS Defence Investors Network and the NATO Innovation Fund and argues for an AUKUS Pillar II innovation fund with a multi-sovereign public-private structure.