Indian-origin researcher Darshana M Baruah has joined as director of Security and Geopolitics at the Australia India Institute (AII), a premier think tank focused on fostering the Australia-India relationship and enhancing understanding of the Indo-Pacific region.
Baruah comes to the Institute from Washington DC, where she previously led the Indian Ocean Initiative at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Delighted to start a new role with @AIinstitute to build out a program on Indo-Pacific security & geopolitics.
— Darshana M. Baruah (@darshanabaruah) June 26, 2024
I very much look forward to being in Australia and contribute to the conversations on Indo-Pacific and maritime security. https://t.co/Vgbw5NzbBg
While at the Carnegie Endowment, she organized the annual Indo-Pacific Islands 1.5-track dialogue, a crucial forum that promotes discussions on maritime security, environmental sustainability, and economic development, aiming to better understand the perspectives of island nations in global affairs.
One of Baruah's significant contributions is the development of the Indian Ocean interactive map. This innovative digital tool highlights the strategic significance of geographic features, trade routes, and maritime security in the region. It serves as both an educational resource and a strategic analysis tool for policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
Before her tenure in Washington DC, Baruah gained extensive experience leading think tanks globally, including positions in Delhi and Tokyo. She has also worked in Hawaii and Canberra, focusing on her research and interests in maritime security and the Indo-Pacific region.
“Ms Baruah’s leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our initiatives and foster deeper collaboration between Australia and India on defence and security issues. As a scholar who has achieved remarkable success in a traditionally male-dominated field, her journey is already inspiring and exemplary,” said Australia India Institute CEO Lisa Singh.
“As we expand our research capability and policy work addressing ongoing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, Ms Baruah’s extensive expertise and strategic analysis will make her an invaluable addition to our team,” she added.
Drawing on her extensive expertise across the Indo-Pacific region, Baruah will lead the Security and Geopolitics program at AII, focusing on expanding research initiatives and facilitating discussions on geopolitics, security, island agency, and maritime affairs.
Baruah is the author of ‘The Contest for the Indian Ocean: And the Making of a New World Order’ published by Yale University Press.
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