Canada and Australia: Evolving Alliances in an Uncertain World

Drinks with Her Excellency Dr Julie Sunday, High Commissioner of Canada to Australia

Hosted by Dr Marianne Broadbent

Canada and Australia are navigating a period of profound global change, marked by geopolitical uncertainty, economic fragmentation, and growing pressure on the rules-based international system. As like-minded democracies with shared values and global outlooks, both countries are reassessing how partnerships can best support national resilience and long-term prosperity.

In this conversation, High Commissioner Julie Sunday will reflect on how Canada is responding to these shifts through strengthened alliances. Drawing on recent developments in the bilateral relationship, she will explore what effective partnership with Australia looks like in practice, and why trust, reliability, and collaboration matter more than ever in a rapidly changing world.

Dr Julie Sunday joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2005. She was appointed Canada’s High Commissioner for Australia in September 2024. She previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister for the Consular, Security and Emergency Management Branch, and led Canada’s consular policy and operations and international emergency policy, operations and response. She also spearheaded efforts to advance the Canada-led Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations. She was named Canada’s first Senior Official for Hostage Affairs in October 2023 and has led diplomatic engagement to support the release of hostages abroad.

At Global Affairs Canada, Julie has served in a number of executive roles including as Director General, Security and Emergency Management, and Chief Security Officer. During the COVID19 crisis she was Director General for Pandemic Response (2021) and led the department’s vaccine distribution campaign to Canada’s missions abroad. She has also served at two of Canada’s central agencies, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (Priorities & Planning) and the Privy Council Office (Social Development Policy Secretariat), and was Director General of Clean Technology Innovation at Natural Resources Canada.

Julie is married to Mark McLaughlin and has three daughters. She enjoys hiking and canoeing, particularly in Northern Canada, and is an avid reader. Julie speaks English, French and German.

Please join High Commissioner Julie Sunday for this exclusive Melbourne Forum event.