Dr Brendan Nelson joins Centre for European Studies

Former leader of the Liberal Party, the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson has been appointed a Distinguished Research Fellow with the Centre for European Studies at ANU.

ANU Acting Vice-Chancellor Margaret Harding said this honorary position provides the opportunity for distinguished people outside the University to participate in its education, research and policy engagement.

“I am pleased to welcome Dr Brendan Nelson to the University,” she said.

“Dr Nelson has had a diverse and successful career that has seen him as serve President of the Australian Medical Association, manage significant Federal Government portfolios during his time as a member of Cabinet, and more recently, strengthen Australia’s links with the European Union and NATO  through his ambassadorial roles.

“He will bring this wealth of experience and knowledge to ANU, and build on the University’s contribution to the development of public sector policy and debate.”

Dr Nelson was Minister for Education, Science, and Training for five years, before becoming Minister for Defence in 2006, when troops were deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.  He was leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2007 to 2008, and retired from politics in 2009 to take up a position as Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO. Dr Nelson recently commenced as Director of the Australian War Memorial in December 2012.

The ANU Centre for European Studies Centre (ANUCES) is the leading EU Studies Centre in the country, and aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue and generate collaborative research projects at home and abroad. ANUCES involves the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU College of Law, ANU College of Business and Economics, and ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. For further information about the ANU Centre for European Studies visit: http://ces.anu.edu.au