Dr Samuel Bashfield is Research Fellow in Global Security at La Trobe University, where he studies geopolitical and defence trends across the Indo-Pacific. With over ten years’ experience as an author, researcher, consultant and project manager, he delivers insights and dialogue on our most pressing global security challenges.
Sam speaks and publishes on national security and defence issues in leading international disciplinary journals and influential media outlets. His research examines how Australia and its partners respond to global geopolitical developments, new technologies and changing power distributions, with particular focus on maritime security, digital flows, and Indian Ocean strategic dynamics.
He holds a PhD in national security policy and Master’s degree from the Australian National University’s National Security College, and a Bachelor of Arts (Global) with first class honours from Monash University. Sam leads two major Australian Commonwealth Government-funded research projects as chief investigator and has contributed to numerous successful grant applications across defence, home affairs and foreign affairs portfolios.
Sam is Expert Associate (Honorary) at the ANU National Security College and Fellow (Honorary) at the University of Melbourne’s Australia India Institute. His previous fellowships include appointments with the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Power Centre, the Australian War College, the Observer Research Foundation (India), the Pathfinder Foundation (Sri Lanka), and as a Raisina Young Fellow in 2024.
He regularly presents at industry gatherings, government dialogues and to international media to help inform debate and improve security policy outcomes. His research has influenced policymakers across the Indo-Pacific and contributed to award-winning investigative journalism. Sam has worked at leading institutions including the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, and the Australian Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, while also consulting government and industry clients on defence and national security issues.
He is currently finalising two books. The first examines seabed critical infrastructure protection and the second Cold War-era Indian Ocean strategic dynamics, with a focus on the British Indian Ocean Territory and Anglo-US relations.