University of Melbourne announces new appointments to Australia India Institute board
Mr Patrick Suckling has been appointed as the new Chair of the Australia India Institute (AII), the University’s centre dedicated to promoting support for and understanding of the Australia-India relationship.
Mr Suckling has over two decades’ experience working with India, having been High Commissioner to India from 2013 to 2016 and Australian Ambassador for the Environment in 2016. He is currently managing director for Pollination, a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) at the University of Melbourne, Professor Michael Wesley welcomed Mr Suckling to the role. “The Australian India Institute is guided by an experienced and connected Advisory Board to help forge the necessary partnerships across industry, government, sector and community, and is one of the many ways the University of Melbourne collaborates cross-border for mutual learning and impact”.
Mr Suckling spoke of his appointment: “As India rises, it has never been more important for Australia to get its relationship right. We have a rich history of association, now becoming an integral and strategic relationship across our two economies, security and defence and people-to-people links. The Institute is playing a critical role in driving this forward in what will be a defining time for how Australia and India navigate a rapidly changing world for mutual benefit.
Australia India Institute’s CEO Lisa Singh, said the organisation was fortunate to have a leader of Mr Suckling’s calibre, experience and influence.
“Mr Suckling is highly credentialed and has over a decade of direct engagement in the Australia-India relationship at high-level government and business levels. His appointment is exciting for the future growth of the Institute in helping to deliver its 2022-2026 Strategy. As the Institute continues to grow and evolve, Mr Suckling’s experience and leadership will be crucial to help lift the Institute to new heights
In addition to the new Chair, the Institute also welcomes five new members of the Advisory Board: Ms Shinjini Kumar, Founder of Five Salts Limited, Ms Srimathi Shivashankar, Vice President and Business Head of HCL, Ms Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive and Director of the Group of Eight, Mr Rajiv Dube, Independent Director for Tata International Limited and Mr Rufus Pinto, ANZ Country Head of India (awaiting regulatory approval).
They will join current Advisory Board members Ms Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Editor, The Hindu, Mr John McCarthy, Senior Adviser, Asialink, University of Melbourne, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Director, Gandhi Creations Pty Ltd and Prof Michael Wesley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement), University of Melbourne.
Ms Singh thanked the outgoing Advisory Board members for their support and insightful advice after a lengthy term of dedicated service. This includes Mr Greg Lewin, Hon Ted Baillieu, Mr Harish Rao, Ms Susan Hunt, Prof Amitabh Mattoo and Mr Jang Sangha.
“The expertise of the outgoing Advisory Board members has been invaluable, and I thank them for their guidance,” Ms Singh said. “Furthermore, the expertise of the new Advisory Board provides a strong foundation for the Institute’s strategic direction as a think tank, and our ability to deliver a strong suite of research and policy expertise and engagement.”
The board appointments are effective immediately.