Two weeks after the US elects its next president, the United States Studies Centre will host its flagship conference, the Sydney International Strategy Forum – bringing together key national security strategists from the Biden-Harris and Trump-Pence administrations, along with other experts and senior policymakers from the United States, Australia, Japan, Korea and elsewhere – to assess the election outcome and its impact on the world.
The forum will dive into how the next US administration will address challenges such as China’s rising influence, regional security architecture, and economic integration in the Indo-Pacific. In exploring the new administration's multilateral and alliance strategies, particularly in the context of emerging threats and strategic competition in the region, it will provide unrivalled insight into the next steps on AUKUS and defence cooperation, US trade policy and the decoupling debate.
Secure your tickets nowWhichever administration enters the White House in 2025, strategic insights and foresight will be essential to shaping the path forward. Be part of these critical conversations.
Featured speakers
Dr Kurt Campbell
US Deputy Secretary of State
Stephanie Murphy
Former US Congresswoman (2017–23)
Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret’d)
Former Chief of the Australian Defence Force
Akihisa Nagashima
RepresentativeJapanese House of Representatives
Dennis Richardson AC
Former Secretary of the Department of Defence
Kristen Silverberg
Former US Ambassador to the European Union (2008-09)
Rui Matsukawa
Member, Japanese House of Councillors
Dr Mara Karlin
Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities (2021–2023)
Matthew Turpin
Former US National Security Council Director for Asia (2018-19)
Wada Yoshiaki
RepresentativeJapanese House of Representatives
The Honourable Arthur Sinodinos AO
Former Australian Ambassador to the United States
Heino Klinck
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia
Dr Peter Sawczak
First Assistant Secretary, Geostrategy and Partnerships DivisionDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Geraldine Doogue AO
Senior presenterAustralian Broadcasting Corporation
Paul Kelly
Editor-at-LargeThe Australian
Peter Hartcher
Political editor and international editorThe Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Cameron Stewart
Chief International CorrespondentThe Australian
Lester Munson
Non-Resident Senior FellowUnited States Studies Centre
Dr Peter K. Lee
Non-Resident Fellow, Foreign Policy and Defence ProgramUnited States Studies CentreProgram preview 🔎
Panel 1: What do we need to know about the new US administration?
If “personnel is policy,” then the people chosen for key roles in the new US administration offer crucial insights into its policy direction. This panel will dissect the major figures shaping the next administration’s agenda — who they are, where they come from and what their backgrounds reveal about the strategic priorities ahead.
The panel will explore how these individuals might influence everything from foreign policy to economic reform and what their appointments tell us about the new administration’s worldview. Expect sharp analysis of key players and what their roles could mean for the US and its allies.
Panel 2: What do we need to know about the new US Congress?
Presidents can make announcements but only Congress can fund them. This panel will dive deep into the new Congressional landscape, focusing on the leaders and committees who will steer pivotal decisions. Who are the key voices and committees shaping the debate on Indo-Pacific issues, military spending and AUKUS? How will this Congress handle competing international priorities?
Our experts will break down the key players and dynamics to watch, offering a roadmap for understanding the legislative challenges ahead.
Panel 3: In the year of elections, is democracy backsliding?
The US election is one of many occurring in 2024, a year in which more than half of the world will vote.
With democracy at a crossroads globally, this panel will explore what the US election results tell us about the state of democracy at home and abroad. They will discuss voter behaviour, election integrity, and the broader implications for global democratic governance in a year that could reshape political landscapes around the world.
Panel 4: How should we approach security challenges in 2025?
Amid a full agenda for allies and partners that includes implementing AUKUS to bolstering the Quad, what are the top security challenges in 2025? Are alliances fit for purpose or do they need to evolve?
These experts will discuss the future of multilateral cooperation, emerging security risks, and the strategies needed to maintain stability in a rapidly changing world.
Panel 5: What next on economic statecraft, technology and climate?
From the CHIPS & Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, the era of US industry policy is upon us.
This panel will explore the new administration’s approach to economic statecraft, especially in relation to allies and partners. How will trade policies and “friend shoring” evolve? What role will technology and energy play in shaping international relations? How should global partners position themselves in response to this shift in US policy?
Panel 6: How should allies approach the new administration?
The agenda for allies has never been longer or more complex.
Informed by the day’s discussions, this final panel will synthesise the day’s discussions, offering key takeaways on how allies can navigate opportunities and challenges with the new leadership. Drawing on examples of successful alliance management in the past, these experts will provide actionable insights into what strategies work best and how to engage effectively with both the administration and Congress in this pivotal moment.
Highlights from last year's forum
