James Edwards

James is a Policy Adviser in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet (Australia) focusing on Victoria’s engagement with India. He and his team provide the Premier (Chief Minister) with advice and analysis on international trends and issues, and support the coordination of Victoria’s whole-of-government international engagement including across the areas of trade, investment, education, health and sustainability. James is also the Founding India Editor of Asia Options, an online platform established to encourage and support young Australians to engage with India through study, work or leaderships opportunities. He provides strategic direction and coordinates a team of correspondents to share Australians’ experiences in India and to provide up-to-date advice on how others can take up similar opportunities.

James has been to India many times for study, travel and family – including an intensive course at the University of Delhi in 2013 – and is doing his best to learn Hindi. Since 2012, James also been involved in the organisation of the local Ganesh Chaturthi community event held each year in Darebin City Council in Melbourne. As part of his Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, James wrote his minor thesis on the negotiations for an Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.