Scotch College

Embassy brief meeting for Year 11 students

Year 11 Political and International Studies students were treated to an ‘Embassy Press Briefing’ when Washington based diplomat Andrew Shearer (’83) visited the School during August.

Year 11 Political and International Studies students with Andrew Shearer ('83) and Bruce Brown

Since graduating in Arts and Law, Andrew’s career path has taken him through various roles in government intelligence agencies and departments, including Prime Minister and Cabinet, Defence and most recently Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Andrew’s working role as Political Minister at the Australian Embassy involves high level contact with the US Congress, the White House ‘West Wing’ and the Washington diplomatic community.

He has been involved in such issues as the Australia–US Free Trade Agreement and the treatment of Australian prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

The students were keen to explore the similarities and differences between the Australian and US systems of government, as well as Andrew’s analysis of current US politics and likely presidential contenders in 2008.

‘It was a wonderful opportunity for the boys to hear first hand how international relations are conducted in overseas missions’, VCE Politics and International Studies teacher Mrs Heather Lacey commented.