Michael Wesley

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global, Culture and Engagement at the University of Melbourne, Professor Wesley provides leadership across the University, with overall responsibility for strategic guidance and expert advice on external and global engagement, government and corporate affairs and the University’s cultural estate.

He is also Professor of Politics at the University of Melbourne. His research and writing focuses on Australian foreign policy and the international affairs of Asia and the Pacific. His 2011 book, There Goes the Neighbourhood: Australia and the Rise of Asia won the John Button Prize for best writing on Australian politics and policy; and was shortlisted for the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards.

His most recent book is Helpem Fren: Australia and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Before joining the University of Melbourne, he was Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University.

He has also held positions as the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute for International Policy, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University, and Assistant Director-General for Transnational Issues at the Office of National Assessments. He has a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Queensland.

Professor Wesley has been an Expert Member of the Australian Government’s Council for International Education since 2019; an Australian representative at the ASEAN Regional Forum’s Expert and Eminent Person’s Group since 2018; and was appointed to the Universities Accord Ministerial Reference Group in December 2022. He is chair of the Group of Eight’s Global Engagement Group.