The Hon George Brandis QC, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in conversation with Richard Iron CMG OBE.

The historically strong relationship between the UK and Australia is facing a challenging period of change. With the current impact of the COVID crisis and the deadline fast approaching for a Brexit deal, UK-Australian relations are entering a new chapter defined by great global instability.

Yet, the UK’s new status as an independent free trading nation post-Brexit has opened opportunities for Australia to boost its economic relationship with the UK. With negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement underway, much of the focus of UK and Australian officials is now on strengthening this trade relationship.

What will an Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement look like? How are the two nations meeting the challenge of COVID? How will post-Brexit Britain position itself in a rapidly changing international environment and how will this affect the bilateral relationship?

In the next of his acclaimed In Conversation series, Richard Iron talks to The Hon George Brandis QC about Britain post-Brexit and the future opportunities in Australia’s relationship with the UK.

The Hon George Brandis QC is the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, having been in the role since 2018. He has had a distinguished career in law and politics in Australia. A barrister by profession, he served as a Senator in the Australian Parliament for 18 years. He was a Minister in the Governments of John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull. His ministerial appointments included Minister for the Arts, Attorney-General, Vice-President of the Executive Council and Leader of the Government in the Senate. As Attorney-General, he was responsible for the reform of Australia’s espionage and foreign interference laws, and played a leading role in the introduction of marriage equality in Australia in 2017.

Richard Iron CMG OBE is President of AIIA Victoria. He previously served in the British Army in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, Oman, the Balkans, Sierra Leone and Iraq. He was a visiting fellow at the Changing Character of War programme at the University of Oxford and was lead editor of British Generals in Blair's Wars.

This event is online only. Registrations close on Thursday 26 November at 2pm, after which you will receive a follow-up email containing details of how to join the Zoom webinar. The webinar will commence at 5pm AEDT (Melbourne time, UTC+11).

AIIA Victoria gratefully acknowledges the Walter Mangold Trust Fund for its ongoing support of our young members.

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