At the end of last month, the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom of Great Britain was the keynote speaker at an event hosted by AIIA ACT, entitled ‘Britain in the World: An Engaged Nation’.

After her address, she caught up with Christopher Farnham, Vice President of AIIA ACT, to have a more in-depth discussion about Britain’s role in the world today. They touch on issues such as the UK’s referendum to leave the European Union and the role of Britain within international bodies such as the Five Powers Defence Agreement and the UN Security Council.

Her Excellency Mrs Menna Rawlings CMG joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1989 and has served in a wide range of Diplomatic Service roles. Prior to her appointment as British High Commissioner to Australia in 2015, she was a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth Management Board as HR Director. This followed postings to Washington DC, Ghana, Israel, Kenya and Brussels. In London, she has served as Private Secretary to the Permanent Under Secretary as well as in the Press Office and the Africa and EU Directorates.

Interviewer: Christopher Farnham

Producer and editor: Leyang Wang