Rory Medcalf

Rory Medcalf

Head of College

National Security College, Australian National University, Australia

Professor Rory Medcalf AM is Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. His career spans diplomacy, academia, intelligence analysis, journalism and thinktanks, including with the Lowy Institute. Professor Medcalf was a senior strategic analyst with the Office of National Assessments, Australia’s peak intelligence agency, and a diplomat with service in India, Japan and Papua New Guinea. He has played a lead role in Australia's informal diplomacy with India and a range of other countries. Professor Medcalf is recognised globally as a thought leader on the Indo-Pacific strategic concept, as articulated in his book Contest for the Indo-Pacific (published internationally as Indo-Pacific Empire). In June 2022 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to international relations and tertiary education. In 2023 he was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Institute for internal affairs for contributions to understanding of the Indo-Pacific.