High Commissioner of Australia – Tegan Brink – discussing international relations, gender equality development and more

Womanity - Women in Unity

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to the High Commissioner of Australia Tegan Brink, she is accredited to seven countries in Southern Africa – Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and eSwatini. Prior to this appointment she was posted in New York as Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Permanent Mission to the UN, and Chef de Cabinet to the President of the UN General Assembly. She also served in the Australian Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Advisory Centre on WTO Law in Geneva. Her interest in cultural diversity and a desire to have a positive impact on the world began in childhood. She further credits her education with studies in Australia, America, the Netherlands, and China as steppingstones that successively created opportunities that progressively built upon each other. She believes that through hard work and working methodically towards your goals, you can attain them. Personal goals are important. We discuss how by using creative resource management she was able to excel in her roles and not forfeit opportunities. We discuss some of the multilateral objectives of the Australian High Commission, touching on trade, mining, scientific collaborations (like the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope project), sports diplomacy and soft power. Additionally, Australia is committed to gender equality and women’s rights. Its development programs are mandated to include an 80% performance target that effectively addresses gender equality. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade consciously works to encourage women to take up leadership positions. Some of the High Commissioner’s leadership tools include being prepared, cultivating networks and adopting inclusive leadership that empowers people to lead at all levels. Tune in for more.