Watch: 2021 Lowy Lecture: Jake Sullivan

The 2021 Lowy Lecture was delivered by US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan — one of the most influential policymakers in the world and a trusted adviser to Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Mr Sullivan spoke on the Biden administration's foreign and security policies in an era of pandemics, growing climate risk, and competition with China and Russia. His lecture was followed by an extended Q&A with Lowy Institute Executive Director Dr Michael Fullilove.

The Lowy Lecture is the Lowy Institute's flagship annual event, at which a prominent speaker reflects on Australia and the world. Past lecturers have included German Chancellor Angela Merkel, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, author and broadcaster Fareed Zakaria, and three Australian prime ministers, including Scott Morrison.

Jake Sullivan served as National Security Adviser to US President Joe Biden. Prior to that, he was Senior Foreign Policy Adviser to Hillary Clinton's 2016 election campaign, National Security Adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, Director of Policy Planning at the US Department of State, and Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2017, Mr Sullivan served as the Lowy Institute's Distinguished International Fellow.

Dr Michael Fullilove AM is the Executive Director of the Lowy Institute. He writes widely on global affairs in publications such as The New York Times, The Atlantic and Foreign Affairs, and is the author of several books, including Rendezvous with Destiny: How Franklin D. Roosevelt and Five Extraordinary Men Took America into the War and into the World (Penguin).