2023 USSYP Yearbook - Flipbook - Page 45
USSYP ANNUAL AMBASSADOR DINNER
Australian Ambassador Suzanne McCourt
A Relationship Built on Values
(RIGHT) Suzanne McCourt, Chief
Congressional Liaison Branch, Australian
Embassy Washington
A
perspective on America from abroad is a core facet of Washington Week, and the 2023 delegates were
honored to hear from Ambassador Suzanne McCourt, Australia’s Minister-Counselor and Congressional
Liaison in Washington, D.C. Ambassador McCourt draws inspiration from her varied international
experiences and the importance of diplomacy. “I've been to a range of places, and that for me is the joy of being a
diplomat. We are the soft side of power; we talk, negotiate, understand and communicate. It is very different to the
hard power side of things, and it's an absolute privilege to represent your country in this way.” She commented on
Australia’s special friendship with the U.S. “The relationship is so robust because it is built on values. It's built on belief
in democracy, on good governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights, a commitment to gender equality and
the protection of freedom of expression.” She described numerous areas of collaboration between Australia and the
United States including in the arts and sciences, in addition to matters of defense and security. “We have over 400
people at our embassy in Washington because there are so many parts of the government that need to talk to each
other.” A bit of Aussie slang was used to further describe the rapport between our nations, “We often just call each other
friends or, to use an Australian term, ‘mates’ because we have so much in common,” she smiled. Ambassador McCourt
answered a wide range of questions, touching on climate change, refugee policies, electoral processes and economic
and defensive alliances, noting that many students in the room would likely be working in a role such as hers one day.
UNITED STATES SENATE YOUTH PROGRAM 2023 | 43
