Panel Event: Launch of The Embassy – a new television series based on the work of Australia’s embassy in Bangkok
The work of an Australian embassy in Asia can be complex and demanding, and Australia’s embassy in Thailand is no exception. It has one of the largest consular workloads of all of our embassies, with Thailand one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers. To capture some of the diverse stories from consular cases that are dealt with by the Bangkok embassy every day, producers Laurie Critchley and Craig Graham spent five months filming a new series based on the work of this very important post. The result is a fascinating new series, The Embassy, which premieres on Channel 9 at 6.30 pm on Sunday, 19 October.
The Lowy Institute is proud to host the launch of this new series. At this panel event, the former Ambassador to Thailand and head of the mission at the time the series was filmed, James Wise, will join Justin Brown of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and one of the consular officers featured in the series, Anita Downey. Alex Oliver will chair a panel discussion followed by a brief question and answer session, which will also include the producers and brains behind the show, Craig Graham and Laurie Critchley.
The Lowy Institute is grateful for the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in hosting this event.
Justin Brown is currently acting Deputy Secretary of DFAT with responsibility for consular, passports, corporate administration and information management. He was First Assistant Secretary of the Consular and Crisis Management Division between 2012 and 2014. He has held a number of other positions including High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador for the Environment, head of the Asia Trade Taskforce, and Deputy in Australia’s Mission to the European Union in Brussels.
James Wise was Australia’s Ambassador to Thailand from 2010 until September 2014. He has been High Commissioner to Malaysia, and had earlier postings to Thailand, the Soviet Union and Papua New Guinea. Mr Wise has held several senior positions in DFAT, including as First Assistant Secretary in the Corporate Management Division, and in the Middle East and Africa Divisions.
Anita Downey is has worked in DFAT’s consular operations since 2010, becoming Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific in early 2013. She has undertaken short-term consular assignments in Paris, Bangkok and Manila and has also worked in the Australian Passports Office.
Embassy producers Laurie Critchley (Southern Pictures) and Craig Graham (Fredbird Entertainment): Laurie Critchley is the principal of Southern Pictures, with a 20 year-career in publishing, radio, film and television in the UK and Australia. Her recent television credits include the ABC’s Logie award-winning Australian series Dynasties and the acclaimed biography series Family Confidential. Craig Graham is one of Australia’s leading producers of factual content. Over the past 15 years, Craig has created, developed and produced programs including Border Security and Missing Person’s Unit. With Fredbird Entertainment, he has created titles including Zumbo and Air Rescue.
Alex Oliver is Director of Polling at the Institute with research interests in consular affairs and diplomacy. She authored the 2013 Policy Brief Consular Conundrum and co-authored with Andrew Shearer a major study into the work of DFAT in 2011, Diplomatic Disrepair.
