Thom Woodroofe Email & Phone Number

Norway

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Conceived, secured funding (through the fourth largest donation in the Asia Society’s history), and begun personally hiring an initial team of five staff to establish an innovative China Climate Hub focussed on providing rapid and actionable intelligence and analysis on developments related to China’s climate diplomacy, energy transition, climate finance and overseas investments, as well as its natural environment and biodiversity. Provided media commentary on developments related to China’s climate diplomacy, including writing a “By Invitation” column for The Economist.

Worked closely with and advised former Australian PM Kevin Rudd in his capacity as President & CEO of the Asia Society, the leading institution for forging closer ties between Asia and the West. Also served concurrently as a Fellow of the Asia Society Policy Institute researching/writing regularly on the UN, climate change, Australian foreign policy, and the Pacific. Highlights:* Helping establish the Asia Society as the pre-eminent institution for understanding and engaging with China across its policy, arts and culture, plus education pillars. Including through a new Centre for China Analysis with the largest concentration of China experts in the US, and launching a major new initiative for Mandarin language learning.• Working behind-the-scenes and publicly on efforts to help stabilise the US-China relationship at the highest levels, including hosting both countries’ foreign ministers, and facilitating private briefings on China with world leaders and aspirants for senior political office.* Supporting the publication of The Avoidable War in English and 7 other languages.* Helping grow to 16 centres/offices around the world with new openings in Delhi, Paris, and soon Seattle.* Helping the institution play a leading role in combatting a scourge of violence towards Asian Americans by promoting their profound contributions.* Helping navigate out of the pandemic, including the Museum reopening, the return to the office, and growing the NYC staff base back from 137 to 170.* Supporting the day-to-day management by personally handling sensitive HR matters, media inquiries, reputational, and other issues.* Helping secure unprecedented levels of fundraising, including a single $10m donation and personally being instrumental in conceiving and securing funding for $4m+ of climate-related policy work.* Improving the institution’s financial health through a new reserve fund, reducing the endowment spend, and broad-based salary increases.

Lead foreign policy adviser to the President of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, especially on multilateralism and climate change. This included supporting his relevant external roles, including as Chair of the International Peace Institute and as Co-Chair of the Task Force on Preventing Nuclear Proliferation and Reassuring America’s Allies.Concurrently managed and implemented a $1m major project on future U.S.-China climate cooperation. This included convening a high-level 1.5 track dialogue involving senior officials and experts from both countries, along with coordinating a major pipeline of research on the topic.

Leading both our work with the Rohingya and the Republic of the Marshall Islands outlined below.

Project manager for our work with Rohingya political leaders, refugees and diaspora from Myanmar/Burma. Involved managing all aspects of the project including client services, external relationships, media engagement, fundraising and personnel.Highlights:* Helping to deliver key accountability mechanisms and punitive measures, such as the establishment of a UN investigative body and the imposition of targeted sanctions by a number of countries, as well as the deletion of the Burmese military chief‘s social media account.* Securing prominent platforms for Rohingya leaders, including to testify before the US Senate and to address the UN’s Human Rights Council, as well as regular media opportunities.* Facilitating more direct Rohingya diplomacy, including the first letter to the UN Security Council by refugee groups in Cox’s Bazar.* Supporting greater coordination across the Rohingya community including through strategically timed joint visits to diplomatic capitals such as New York, Geneva, Brussels and The Hague.* Brokering key political meetings, including with the UN’s Special Envoy, Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Mission, and numerous countries’ Ministers.

Provided political and diplomatic assistance to the President and Ministers of the Republic of the Marshall Islands - including during their extensive climate-related travels - through briefings, talking points and other products, as well as undertaking outreach and other representational activities as needed. Involved a one-year posting to Majuro Atoll.Highlights:* Being a lead in-the-room advisor for dozens of visits and key meetings with world leaders, including bilaterals with then-US President Obama and French President Hollande, as well as during a State Visit to India hosted by PM Modi.* Helping their emergence as the most influential vulnerable country at the COP21 negotiations and to play a decisive role in delivering the Paris Agreement. This included its 1.5°C temperature limit, the long-term goal to reach carbon neutrality and the five-year mechanism to increase national emissions reductions targets.* Supporting the creation of the 30+ country High Ambition Coalition, and cementing its ongoing role post-Paris as the pre-eminent Ministerial forum for coordinating progressive action on climate change. This included helping drive the Coalition’s strategy in securing the rapid entry into force of the Paris Agreement, as well as delivering the Kigali Amendment and climate-related deals at ICAO and the IMO. * Assisting with their chairing of the 2013 Pacific Islands Forum which resulted in the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership, as well as the development of its own landmark 2025 and 2030 national emissions reduction plans and its 2050 Long-Term Strategy.* Securing high-profile media coverage, including a front-page profile in The New York Times, recognition in The Economist’s 2014 ‘Country of the Year’ index and the publication of numerous opinion pieces.* Driving the project’s fundraising efforts from both governments and philanthropies.

Researched and commented on Asian and international affairs (especially regional security and regional architecture), including through regular media interviews and publishing 80+ opinion pieces with the ABC, The Guardian, The South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald / The Age, and The West Australian.

Melbourne, Australia

Established Australia’s pre-eminent opportunity for young people to engage on the world stage. Secured more than twenty major sponsors, including Australia’s leading universities and Qantas Airways. As a result, 89 people received fully-funded scholarships to undertake a research fellowship and to travel overseas during this period.

Sacramento, California Area

Monitored state and national media for relevant content, managed distributions to senior staff and the Governor and helped formulate responses to sensitive media issues.

San Francisco Bay Area

Assisted with the Congresswoman’s personal correspondence and remarks, and assessments of the Obama Administration’s local stimulus projects.

Master Of Science (Diplomacy) / Research Thesis (Pending)

Studied on a Rhodes Scholarship. Produced a thesis titled ‘Activist Diplomacy: How the smallest and poorest island microstates can wield.

First Class Honours / Master Of International Relations

Produced a thesis on Australia’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. This involved interviews with the Prime.

Bachelor Of Arts (Global), International Relations And Affairs

Including exchanges to the University of California (September 2009 to March 2010) and Monash University’s campus in Kuala Lumpur (July.