How is AFL bringing together Australian and Indian communities and how can sports can be used as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy, identity and stronger bilateral ties?

CEO Lisa Singh joins incoming Head of Cultural Diplomacy at the Australia India Institute, Sudip Chakraborty, to discuss the impact of AFL on his journey to Australia, from founding the national governing body of AFL India to leading cross-cultural sports initiatives across both countries.

Sudip was instrumental in leading Essendon Football Club’s Embracing India Strategy and later contributed to a range of initiatives at the AFL Headquarters focused on expanding the game’s reach both in India and among the rapidly growing Indian diaspora in Australia.

In this new episode of Chats Over Chai, Research Fellow and Director of Security and Geopolitics, Dr Samuel Bashfield, sits down with Dr. Robert Mizo, a visiting Japan Foundation Fellow from the University of Delhi, to discuss the critical intersection of maritime security and climate change.

The pair explored how climate-related challenges reshape security paradigms in the Indo-Pacific region, the role of climate refugees and climate-induced migration and the future of the climate agenda for the Quad. They also delved into the potential collaborative approaches between Australia, India, and other regional partners to address these pressing environmental security concerns.

Dr Robert Mizo holds a PhD in Climate Policy studies. His research interests include Climate Change and Security, International Climate Politics, and Environmental Security.  

In this new episode of Chats Over Chai, Aii’s defence researcher, Dr Samuel Bashfield, sits down with Rajat Kulshrestha, CEO of Space Machines Company, who has held various roles as an investor, advisor, founder, director and executive across technology-driven sectors and has trained as an aerospace engineer.

The pair delve into the evolving space domain, the key opportunities and challenges faced by Australian space firms, collaborations with Indian players to alleviate these challenges, Space MATRI and the current projects of the company.

The space domain is constantly evolving— it is transformative, dynamic, and expansive. What are key challenges for space operators in 2025? India is considered one of Australia most significant strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific. Why was India selected and what opportunities exist in India for Australian space-firms?

The Australia India Institute hosted a webinar on ‘Democracy Decoded: Australia's Election and the Indo-Pacific' on Wednesday, April 30 2025 at 5pm AEDT.

As geopolitical tensions rise with US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy and current trade wars, the result of the Australian election in May will have consequences far beyond Australia’s borders. This timely webinar will explore how the outcome of the Australian election will impact relationships with India, the US and Australia’s role in the Indo-Pacific region.

Moderated by CEO of the Australia India Institute, Lisa Singh, attendees heard from the diplomatic editor of the Hindu, Ms Suhasini Haidar, Foreign Affairs (Asia Pacific) Reporter of ABC Australia, Stephen Dziedzic, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, Prof Michael Wesley and Director of Kubernein Initiative, Ambika Vishwanath.

In a special live recording of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh sits down with the authors of the Institute's landmark defence report, "Building a Resilient Australia India Defence Relationship: Options for the next decade", Mr Kim Heriot-Darragh and Dr Gaurav Saini, to discuss the future of the Australia India defence relationship, amidst the geopolitical uncertainty facing the Indo-Pacific.

This recording was part of the official launch of the report in Parliament House, Canberra on March 27. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon. Richard Marles MP launched the report and India's High Commissioner to Australia, Mr Gopal Baglay gave closing remarks.

In the first 2025 episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by India’s Consul General in Sydney, Dr S Janakiraman, a career diplomat, who shares insights on the growing business ties between India and Australia. From the surge in trade to the rise of Indian tech startups, and the strategic role of the Indian diaspora, there's plenty to look forward to in 2025.

The pair deep dive into the opportunities in clean energy, agribusiness, and tech collaborations and how India’s growing startup ecosystem is set to play a key role in this evolving relationship.

What will the new Trump administration mean for the bilateral relationship? And will the target of $100 billion in India-Australia bilateral trade be met by 2030?

With the election of Donald Trump to the White House, the Quad stands at a critical juncture as the incoming US administration presents significant geopolitical shifts for US engagement in the Indo-Pacific. In this webinar, leading experts in foreign policy examined how these shifts in US foreign policy could reshape one of the region's most consequential multilateral groupings.

Drawing on their extensive diplomatic and security expertise, the panel discussed pressing questions about the resilience of the Quad partnership, the future of technology sharing, and implications for the Indo-Pacific security architecture.

Moderated by CEO of the Australia India Institute, Lisa Singh, attendees heard from the diplomatic editor of the Hindu, Ms Suhasini Haidar, Professor of International relations at Griffith University, Prof Ian Hall and Fellow (non-resident) at the Hudson Institute, Dr Satoru Nagao. This webinar built on from the 'Quad Leader’ Summit 2023: Predictions and Possibilities.'

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined with Professor T.V. Paul, an expert on international security and South Asian geopolitics at McGill University, Canada to discuss India’s rise as a major global power. Drawing on his recent book The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi, Professor Paul offers a nuanced analysis of India's trajectory toward global influence.

They delve into India’s strategic challenges in a changing global order, emphasizing the India-China dynamic, India’s bilateral relations with the United States, and the complexities of its foreign policy shaped by a multi-alignment approach. They discuss India’s role as a 'swing power', its strengthening ties with Western powers, including Australia, and the evolving role of the Quad in the Indo-Pacific region.

Tune into this episode as Lisa and Professor Paul unpack the historical and contemporary factors shaping India’s quest for a prominent role on the global stage.