Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish Macdonald The lives of Australian diplomats: what it's like to be on the front line of world politics
Apr 3, 2026
Ian Kemish, former ambassador and crisis manager who led the Bali response. Dr Robert Bowker, career diplomat with long service in the Arab world. Dr Lachlan Strahan, former High Commissioner to the Solomons and UN acting ambassador. They compare TV drama with real diplomacy. They debate Australian diplomatic style, crisis consular work, values versus security, Pacific sovereignty and etiquette in foreign postings.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Australian Diplomacy Has A Practical Directness
- Australian diplomats combine practicality and directness with a light touch of humour, making them effective in global rooms.
- Ian Kemish said Australia is a "Goldilocks size": big enough for resources but small enough to avoid crippling bureaucracy, aiding responsiveness.
Speech Fight That Cost Sleep And Career Risk
- Robert Bowker recounted pushing departmental advice on Palestinian self-determination despite internal opposition and political risk.
- He delivered a speech amendment saga at a Zionist Federation dinner that led to personal stress and later PTSD.
Argue Privately Then Advocate Publicly
- Public servants must advocate government policy even when it conflicts with personal views, while arguing forcefully behind closed doors.
- Lachlan Strahan said nobody elected officials and they must accept elected decisions after private contestation.
