London: Australia’s former attorney-general and most recent High Commissioner to the UK George Brandis has been appointed a professor at the Australian National University, focusing on national security, law and policy.
He will start the prestigious position, based at the ANU’s National Security College from July 1.
George Brandis was Australia’s High Commissioner from 2018 until April this year. Credit:Liliana Zaharia
He is the second person to be appointed a Professor in the Practice of National Security by the college, following in the footsteps of Duncan Lewis, who was formerly the head of the spy agency ASIO.
Brandis, as attorney-general, oversaw ASIO and was responsible for national security.
During his time in the job, he oversaw the introduction of Australia’s foreign interference laws, primarily aimed at preventing Chinese interference in Australia’s political and democratic systems.
Following his retirement from political life, he was appointed High Commissioner to the UK and took up the role in May 2018, serving until April this year.
During that time, Australia and the United Kingdom forged close security ties, culminating with the signing of the AUKUS agreement, in which the United States and UK agreed to share their nuclear submarine technology with Australia.
He regularly advised the British government on its China policy.
ANU’s National Security College is supported by the Australian government and led by Professor Rory Medcalf.
In April, the UK opened its own version, the UK College for National Security which will work directly with Medcalf’s organisation.
When the college was first announced, the British cabinet office minister Michael Ellis said collaboration would be key.
“Our partnership with the Australian National Security College will harness our collective expertise from opposite sides of the globe and keep us on the front foot for tackling the growing range of domestic and global threats we face,” Ellis said.
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