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30 June 2025
June has been anything but quiet for the United States and the world. While United States Studies Centre (USSC) experts have been at the forefront of rapid-fire analysis on the US response to Iran, tariffs and calls for increased defence spending, the team has also continued the focus on longer-term strategy. This month we ran a multipolar workshop in Canberra and an international tabletop exercise in Hawaii. We also released two publications to serve as a playbook for US allies and partners working with the Trump administration: Unpacking Trump 2.0 and Key players in the Trump administration.
This analysis will continue in our annual Sydney International Strategy Forum this September. The theme is Navigating disruption and we are welcoming leading experts in government, military strategy, economics and foreign policy to shape this discussion including former Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania at the White House Security Council Dr Mira Rapp-Hooper, retired US Marine Corps General David H. Berger and Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute Dr Kori Schake. Register today for early bird pricing.
This month also marks some major movements for the USSC team. After 10 years Mark Baillie is stepping down as Chair of the USSC. He has been the longest-serving chair in USSC history and will continue an affiliation with the USSC as a Distinguished Fellow. He will be replaced by former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos AO from tomorrow. We also welcomed a new Director of Strategic Technologies, Olivia Shen. She joins the USSC after heading up Data Science and AI Strategy for the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
The news cycle will not be slowing any time soon, but the USSC team will continue to provide the latest info and analysis you need through our publications, events and podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to our publication alerts and event invites so you will be the first to know when we release something.
News
Former Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos AO announced as new Chair
This month, we announced that former Australian Ambassador to the United States Arthur Sinodinos AO will become the new Chair of the USSC from 1 July. A long-serving Senator for New South Wales and former Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, brings a wealth of political and diplomatic experience in both Australia and the United States to the role.
Ambassador Sinodinos is succeeding Mark Baillie in the role of Chair of the Board of Directors. Mr Baillie is the longest-serving chair in the history of the United States Studies Centre, having served for 10 years and overseeing the greatest growth in the Centre’s history. Mark Baillie will be a Distinguished Fellow of the USSC in recognition of the many years he dedicated to the Centre.
Japan and South Korea space, science and technology study tour
University of Sydney students have a chance to join our US Space, Science and Technology Policy in the Indo-Pacific Study Tour this November. This two-week study tour will go through Japan and South Korea and look at how US influence, policy actions and funding have shaped science, technology and space exploration in the Indo Pacific region. The tour will be led by Dr Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies and Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Space Governance. Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from all faculties at the University of Sydney may be eligible. Applications close on 7 August 2025.
Olivia Shen joins USSC as Director of Strategic Technologies
Olivia Shen joined the Centre this month as the Director of the Strategic Technologies Program after heading up Data Science and AI Strategy for the Australian Department of Home Affairs. She has over a decade of experience in national security and foreign policy in government, academia and think tanks. Olivia was a Fulbright Scholar and Thawley Scholar with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC and was previously a Congressional Research Fellow with the Australian National University. In 2023 she was a Summer Fellow with the Centre for the Governance of AI at the University of Oxford.
David Shambaugh on how China won and lost America
Last week, USSC hosted renowned China scholar David Shambaugh for an event looking at how US-China ties have evolved from rapprochement to competition over the last five decades. Watch the replay here.
Release of Unpacking Trump 2.0
This month, 12 USSC researchers released their insights on the second Trump administration in the compilation: Unpacking Trump 2.0. From tariffs to AUKUS, the experts address the current state of play, what is beyond the headlines and how stakeholders can plan and respond to rapid policy change. The report was launched at an event at Clayton Utz featuring USSC CEO Dr Michael Green, USSC Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer, and USSC Director of Research Jared Mondschein, in conversation with Partner at Clayton Utz Steven Klimt. Watch a replay here.
Discount on Geopolitics Sprint for friends of USSC
The past few weeks in the Middle East have given us a masterclass in how much geopolitics can impact business. Israel and Iran have traded direct missile strikes before agreeing to a fragile ceasefire, with Donald Trump joining the conflict by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities.
Registrations are now open for the next Geopolitics Sprint course run through the University of Sydney Business School. The course is led by USSC CEO Dr Michael Green and Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer. The sprint equips you with practical tools to anticipate these disruptions, assess their commercial impact, and spot opportunities amid the chaos. Over five self-paced modules you’ll learn about economic security, supply chain resilience, and how to read the signals before they become headlines.
The next sprint runs on 8 August 2025. You can enrol today with a 15% discount using the code USSC_FRIEND15.
To learn more about the sprint, visit the course page or download a course outline.
Report from first JADE cohort
From 2024-2025, the USSC and Japan Foundation hosted a cohort of seven fellows seeking to strengthen connections and collaboration between the next generation of scholars looking at Australia-Japan relations. The cohort completed exchanges to their partner countries for research and meetings with key stakeholder groups to better understand areas of alignment and potential challenges in deepening ties.
This month, USSC published a report from the inaugural Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange (JADE) for the Next Generation fellows looking at issues of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.
Recent content from us
REPORTUnpacking Trump 2.0This report sees experts from the United States Studies Centre go beyond the headlines to unpack the key decisions, internal dynamics, and strategic consequences of Trump’s return, from sweeping executive actions and tariff shocks to shifting alliance structures and nuclear posture. |
REPORTMaritime security strategies for Japan and Australia: Report of the inaugural JADE FellowsFrom 2024-2025, the USSC and Japan Foundation hosted a cohort of seven fellows seeking to strengthen connections and collaboration between the next generation of scholars looking at Australia-Japan relations. This report features contributions from six JADE fellows in the first cohort. |
EXPLAINERKey players in the Trump administration — and what they mean for AustraliaIn Key players in the Trump administration — and what they mean for Australia, Senior Research Associates Samuel Garrett and Ava Kalinauskas and Research Intern Annabelle Brophy give a topline breakdown of members of Cabinet and other senior Trump administration officials and their influence on issues relevant to Australia and other US allies. |
EXPLAINERWhat does Lee Jae Myung’s victory mean for South Korea’s Indo-Pacific strategy, and for Australia?Research Associate Kester Abbot analyses the results of the South Korean election and what this means for the Indo-Pacific in this explainer. |
Upcoming events
Sydney International Strategy Forum 2025: Navigating Disruption
From tariffs to artificial intelligence, one word best sums up 2025: disruption. President Donald Trump’s first 100 days featured norm-breaking policies at breakneck pace, often to be overturned days or weeks later. At the same time, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza have entered new eras with high-level negotiations, on-again off-again fighting and a new world order forming in real time to adapt to a changing strategic landscape. The 2024 trend of turfing incumbents has given way to foreign elections that many perceive to be a referendum on US politics.
What is the future of the United States’ role in the world? How can governments and businesses plan in the midst of constant change? How should allies and partners approach security challenges in 2025 and beyond?
International experts across government, business and research will share their insider insights on the discussions happening in Washington, Tokyo and Canberra and what this means for US allies and partners around the world.
Confirmed speakers include:
- Dr Mira Rapp-Hooper, Former Special Assistant to the US President and former National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia and Oceania
- General David Berger (retired), Former Marine Corps Commandant
- Kori Schake, American Enterprise Institute Director of Foreign and Defence Policy and former National Security Council Director for Defence Strategy
- Lisa Curtis, Center for a New American Security Director of Indo-Pacific Security and former National Security Council Senior Director for South and Central Asia
- Clay Lowery, Institute of International Finance Executive Vice President and former US Treasury Department Assistant Secretary and National Security Council Director for International Finance
- Professor Nobukatsu Kanehara, Sasakawa Peace Foundation Executive Director and former Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary
17 September 2025
The Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney, Australia
Early bird ticket $775 (ends 30 June)
Full price ticket $875
Student ticket $475
PUBLIC FORUM
Kelly Magsamen: The future of US defence policy
Join us for a fireside chat with Kelly Magsamen, former Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Senior Advisor at The Asia Group.
7 July 2025
6:00-7:00pmLevel 5 Refractory, Belinda Hutchinson Building (H70), corner of Darlington Ln & Abercrombie St, Darlington, The University of Sydney
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United States Studies Centre
Institute Building (H03)
University of Sydney NSW 2006
