Melissa Conley Tyler

Melissa Conley Tyler
Biography
Publications

Melissa Conley Tyler is Program Lead with the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue.

For 13 years she served as National Executive Director of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, an independent international policy institute established as a branch of Chatham House in 1924, with close links to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Under her leadership, the AIIA was recognised for three years running as the top think tank in Southeast Asia/Pacific and one of the top 50 think tanks worldwide in the University of Pennsylvania’s Global Go To Think Tanks Index, the only comprehensive ranking exercise. In 2017, she co-authored Think Tank Diplomacy, the first book-length discussion of the role of policy institutes in the international sphere.

She joined the University of Melbourne in 2019 as Director of Diplomacy at Asialink and then as a Research Fellow/Associate in the Asia Institute. Most recently she was a visiting fellow in Taiwan at the Ministry of Defense’s think tank – the Institute of Defense and National Security Research – funded by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan Fellowship.

Melissa has extensive experience establishing and sustaining Australia-Asia engagement through Track II dialogues involving government officials, academics, media and business. She is a lawyer and specialist in conflict resolution, including negotiation, mediation and peace education, who worked as program manager of the University of Melbourne’s International Conflict Resolution Centre and Senior Fellow of Melbourne Law School.  Melissa is a prolific commentator with expertise in Australian foreign policy, Australia’s key relationships across Asia and the practice of diplomacy.

The Translator: What is “economic statecraft”?
The Translator: What is “economic statecraft”?
The power of carrots and sticks in the world of geoeconomics.
The Translator: “Like-minded countries”
The Translator: “Like-minded countries”
A new series in which experts explain the sometimes baffling jargon of international affairs.
Putting “Australia” at the centre of the country’s foreign policy
Putting “Australia” at the centre of the country’s foreign policy
A “whole of nation” approach can better connect the various elements of Australia’s international engagement.
Why do we travel to unsettling places?
Why do we travel to unsettling places?
Whether the DMZ or sites of historic atrocities, place carries a connection to remind us of the precariousness of life.
Amid great power visits, don’t underestimate middle power cooperation
Amid great power visits, don’t underestimate middle power cooperation
With Vietnam supercharging its relationship with the United States, Australia may be next.
What is Australia’s role in supporting Timor-Leste?
What is Australia’s role in supporting Timor-Leste?
Health and education are where Canberra can help Dili the most. But language barriers require thinking outside the box.
Defence Review: DFAT gets a boost
Defence Review: DFAT gets a boost
For the first time, a major Defence policy statement recommends more diplomatic funding.
An enduring formula for Australian foreign policy
An enduring formula for Australian foreign policy
Relationships, forums and neighbours are still a winning combination for Canberra on the global stage.
Asian Century White Paper: a decade on
Asian Century White Paper: a decade on
The language may have changed, but the message stays the same.
Top