Dr Kadira Pethiyagoda

Dr Kadira Pethiyagoda has built a global career in foreign policy, diplomacy and international security over more than two decades. His expertise includes grand strategy, great power politics and multipolarity, with a focus on Asia–particularly India. Contributing to policy debates, he has advised governments and international institutions, and published in journals such as Foreign Affairs and mainstream outlets including The Guardian.

He has helped shape national and international policy, served as Advisor to Australia's Shadow Foreign Minister/Deputy Opposition Leader, advised ministers and MPs and represented Australia as a diplomat. Internationally, he has advised the International Criminal Court, UN, and a US presidential candidate. He is Senior Advisor at the Shaikh Group and an expert at the University of Melbourne’s Australia-India Institute.

Dr Pethiyagoda focused on Asia as a Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Geneva Centre for Security Policy. He was a Senior Associate Member at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford, held research roles within Oxford’s Department of Politics and International Relations, and was Director of Research – Global Governance at Sri Lanka's Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute.

He has been interviewed by BBC, New York Times, Al Jazeera, CNN, CGTN and India’s WION and Republic TV. He has published in Foreign Policy, The Independent, Huffington Post, The Hindu, Indian Express, SCMP and Australian Financial Review.

His book, Indian Foreign Policy and Cultural Values (Palgrave-MacMillan 2020) was endorsed by former Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans. His doctorate in international relations focused on Indian foreign policy, including nuclear posture and relations with the Middle East. He holds four degrees, including a master’s in international human rights law from the University of Oxford.

Dr Pethiyagoda was admitted to the List of Assistant Counsel eligible to represent clients before the International Criminal Court. He has won multiple legal scholarships, including The Lord Denning Scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn. He was also a candidate for Australia's parliament.