ABOUT THE LOWY INSTITUTE

The Lowy Institute is Australia’s leading international policy think tank. It is independent, non-partisan and at the centre of Australia’s foreign policy and national security debates. Located in Sydney, the Institute produces world-class research and provides distinctive perspectives on the trends shaping Australia and the world, aiming to give Australia a greater voice on the international stage.

The Lowy Institute hosts distinguished Australian and international speakers on foreign policy, defence, politics, aid, and development. With a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, the Institute’s research, events, and conferences attract significant global attention, and our experts produce commentary for the world’s leading news outlets.

The Institute is seeking an exceptional Deputy Director within its Indo-Pacific Development Centre (IPDC).

ABOUT THE ROLE The IPDC focuses on the challenges facing developing economies in Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and South Asia and the role of international development partners. We are seeking a Deputy Director with strong expertise in aid and development policy in the Indo-Pacific region.

This is a full time position based in the Lowy Institute’s offices in the Sydney CBD.

The Deputy Director, IPDC supports the Director of the Indo-Pacific Development Centre in strategic leadership, day-to-day management, and the delivery of major programs of work. The Deputy Director will also be expected to undertake their own research agenda.

Working closely with the IPDC Director, the core priorities for the position will include:

- Supporting the IPDC team to produce high-quality research,



commentary, events, and podcasts including through strategic guidance, review, and quality assurance.
- Overseeing delivery of the Pacific and Southeast Asia Aid Maps and other major research projects, working closely with the respective project leads.
- Strategic engagement and representation of IPDC with key stakeholders in government, business, and civil society in Australia, the region, and globally.
- General management including finance, human resources, performance reporting, and grant management.
- Producing original research and commentary on economic and development issues in the Indo-Pacific.
- Contributing to the Institute’s business development, including new partnerships and funding opportunities.
- Other duties as assigned by the IPDC Director.

ABOUT YOU

This is an exciting opportunity for a agile individual who enjoys combining research with management and strategic leadership. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise on development issues in the Indo-Pacific region, a keen eye for influencing policy and the public debate, proven capabilities in policy-oriented research and analysis, and an ability to manage other research staff including across disciplines.





Experience as a policymaker and/or development practitioner is highly valued and forms part of the ideal candidate profile. Relevant academic research is also valued.

Candidates will have a minimum of ten years of relevant professional experience, with deep knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region’s strategic, political, and economic dynamics. Experience may span think tanks, government, multilateral development banks and other international organisations, the development sector, academia, or the private sector.

Essential

- Demonstrated capacity to produce original research and high-quality policy analysis
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including for non-specialist audiences
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills across government, business, and civil society
- Experience managing programs, teams, or budgets
- An advanced degree in a relevant field
- Strong collegial leadership skills

Strong quantitative skills and comfort working with data are essential, as are robust organisational and project management capabilities.

We aim to build a strong and diverse research team with a broad mix of skills, perspectives, and analytical strengths. Women and candidates from diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a CV and cover letter to [email protected] by 27 November 2026. Your cover letter should address your substantive expertise and what you would bring to the Centre’s direction. Enquiries may be directed to the same address.

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.

📌 Deputy Director, Indo-Pacific Development Centre (Sydney)
🏢 Lowy Institute
📍 Sydney