The United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney (USSC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Duncan Ivison and Chelsey Martin to its board.

Chairman of the USSC Board, Mark Baillie commended their distinguished experience in foreign relations and academia, recognising how they are uniquely placed to provide valuable insight to the Board.

“As a highly regarded former Australian Consul-General in Los Angeles, as well as a former senior diplomat in New York and Washington DC, Chelsey has unmatched visibility over the US-Australia relationship at this pivotal time,” Mr Baillie said. He added, “Combined with Duncan’s leadership as the University of Sydney’s Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research and it is clear these appointments support the policy-relevant, research-driven focus of the Centre.”

Mr Baillie also noted other changes, the appointment of Dr Heather Smith PSM and Ian Saines as Deputy Chairs of the Centre and the retirement of Maria Atkinson AM and Stephen Garton AM from the Board. He noted, “As a representative of the University of Sydney, Stephen has been an integral part of the USSC Board from its earliest days. We could not be where we are now without him, and we are tremendously grateful for his significant contribution.”

CEO Professor Simon Jackman thanked the outgoing board members for their years of service to the USSC. He said, “Maria and Stephen brought a wealth of experience to the Board and were a pleasure to work with. The Centre greatly appreciates their contributions during their service.”

Professor Duncan Ivison

Professor Duncan Ivison is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Sydney. Prior to this he was Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Head of the School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry. Duncan has held tenured appointments at the University of Toronto, the University of York (UK) and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Research School of Social Sciences at the ANU. He did his BA at McGill University in Montreal, where he grew up, and his MSc and PhD at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in 2009, and Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales in 2017.

Ms Chelsey Martin

Chelsey Martin is Partner and Managing Director of business advisory firm Bondi Partners. Martin has more than two decades of experience in the United States and Australia, spanning international diplomacy, trade and investment, media and strategic communications. Prior to joining Bondi Partners, she served as Australia’s Consul-General in Los Angeles, with responsibility for Australia’s relationship with the United States South West.  This followed senior diplomatic roles in New York and Washington DC, giving her a deep understanding of the Australia-US relationship and vast networks across both the east and west coasts of the United States. At Bondi Partners, Martin spearheads the firm’s strategic communications and management consultancy practice.

Media enquiries

Taylor Mellor
T 02 9114 2622 
E Taylor.Mellor@sydney.edu.au