Carlyle Thayer

Carlyle Thayer is Emeritus Professor of Politics and Visiting Fellow at UNSW Canberra, as well as Director of Thayer Consultancy, an Australia-based political and security analysis consultancy. He is internationally recognised for his expertise on Southeast Asian politics, Vietnam, ASEAN, and regional security issues.

Professor Thayer holds degrees from Brown University, Yale University, and The Australian National University, where he completed his PhD in International Relations. He has studied Vietnamese, Thai, and Lao languages, and has spent decades researching political and strategic developments across Southeast Asia.

He began his academic career in the 1970s and joined UNSW in 1979, teaching at both the Royal Military College-Duntroon and the Australian Defence Force Academy. During his career, he also held senior appointments at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii and the Australian Defence College, while undertaking research fellowships at institutions including Harvard University, Chulalongkorn University, and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Professor Thayer has served as a United Nations observer for the Cambodian elections and has regularly advised regional forums and defence dialogues on maritime security, ASEAN affairs, and Indo-Pacific strategic dynamics. His contributions to the field have been recognised through multiple distinguished professorships and international honours.

Email: [email protected]