Our Bureau
Washington, DC
Darshana Baruah has been appointed as Director Security and Geopolitics at the Australia India Institute (AII), Australia’s leading think tank dedicated to promoting support for the Australia India relationship and building an understanding of the Indo-Pacific region. Ms Baruah joins the Institute from Washington D.C. where she previously directed the Indian Ocean Initiative at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Ms Baruah has made significant contributions to the field of maritime security, the Indian Ocean and the strategic importance of island nations across the Indo-Pacific. At the Carnegie Endowment, she convened the annual Indo-Pacific Islands 1.5-track dialogue, a pivotal forum to facilitate discussions on maritime security, environmental sustainability, and economic development, to better understand the perspectives of island nations in global affairs.
One of Ms Baruah’s notable contributions is the conceptualization of the Indian Ocean interactive map, highlighting the strategic importance of geographic features, trading routes, and maritime security within the region. Besides this, her work includes naval strategies and maritime partnerships, exploring foreign policy and island agency.
Ms Baruah is the author of “The Contest for the Indian Ocean: And the Making of a New World Order” published by Yale University Press (August 2024).
Before her role in Washington D.C., Ms Baruah amassed extensive experience in leading think tanks across the globe, including in Delhi and Tokyo. Ms Baruah has also spent time in Hawaii and Canberra in her past roles advancing her research and interests in maritime security and the Indo-Pacific.
“Ms Baruah’s leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our initiatives and foster deeper collaboration between Australia and India on defense and security issues. As a scholar who has achieved remarkable success in a traditionally male-dominated field, her journey is already inspiring and exemplary,” said Australia India Institute CEO Lisa Singh.
Her role as Director Security and Geopolitics is with effect from July 1.
