Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Joins CSIS as Distinguished Statesman

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2014 – The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is pleased to announce that Kevin Rudd, former prime minister of Australia, will join CSIS as a distinguished statesman. Mr. Rudd served as prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010, as foreign minister from 2010 to 2012, and returned as prime minister in 2013.

“Kevin Rudd uniquely combines world-class scholarship and proven practical policy leadership,” said John J. Hamre, president, CEO, and Pritzker chair at CSIS. “He is a rare talent, and we are gratified to have his association with CSIS.”

“I’m delighted to be affiliated with CSIS because of the center’s long-standing stature as a forum for analyzing and disseminating views on the big picture strategic questions of our time, including China,” said Mr. Rudd. “I’m honored to be part of an institution closely affiliated with former secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who were giants in their field.”

Mr. Rudd will continue his major research project as senior fellow at the Kennedy School at Harvard University working on alternative futures for U.S.-China relations under President Xi Jinping’s leadership.

Mr. Rudd’s policy research activities continue to focus on a range of international challenges including global economic management, the rise of China, climate change, and sustainable development. He is on the International Advisory Panel of Chatham House. He is also a visiting professor at Tsinghua University. As prime minister, he funded the establishment of the Australian Centre on China in the World at the Australian National University. He was a coauthor of the recent report of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability, Resilient People, Resilient Planet, and chairs the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Fragile States.

“Kevin Rudd has shown bold leadership and taken on great responsibility during his time in office and beyond,” said Sam Nunn, chairman of the CSIS Board of Trustees. “His strategic view and tremendous experience will be huge assets to CSIS as we focus on Asia, including China, India, and pressing global issues.”

                                       ###

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1962 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. It seeks to advance global security and prosperity by providing strategic insights and policy solutions to decisionmakers.