Michaela Jansens is the Communications and Programs Coordinator at the Australia India Institute. In this role, she leads strategic communications and supports the delivery of the Institute’s programs on security and geopolitics, sustainable economies, education and cultural diplomacy. Michaela has coordinated high-level events including roundtables, policy report launches and Track 1.5 dialogues across Australia, India and Fiji. Her career highlights include delivering the Australia India Leadership Dialogue in Melbourne, the Australia India Renewables Dialogue in Sydney, and the Fiji Dialogue in Suva– convening senior Australian, Indian and Fijian ministers, academic and government officials to discuss issues of importance in the Indo-Pacific region.
Prior to joining the Institute, Michaela served as Chief Marketing Officer at Oaktree, a youth-led international development organisation. In this position, she worked with partners across the Indo-Pacific to amplify youth-led initiatives in Tonga, Cambodia, Timor-Leste and Indonesia, strengthening community engagement and grassroots programs.
Michaela is on the Youth Advisory Council for the US Consulate General in Melbourne and is also currently working at the Climate Resilience Clinic at Melbourne Law School where she provides meaningful legal information to communities at risk of climate impact. She has received the University of Melbourne Chancellery (Global, Culture and Engagement) Award for ‘Outstanding Results’ in recognition of her contributions to the Institute, and was named Volunteer of the Year at Oaktree. At Melbourne Law School, Michaela won the Corrs Chambers Westgarth Negotiations competition, placing first out of 60 teams.
Michaela holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations) from the University of Melbourne and is a Juris Doctor candidate at Melbourne Law School.