Chats Over Chai

🎙️The unique cross-border impacts of climate tech start-ups 🎙️ How can a bilateral partnership successfully support start-ups pioneering sustainable change?    The India Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator is a purpose-built program that helps Indian and Australian start-ups fast-track their cross-border impact. The start-ups focus on solutions to challenges felt by...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by the Australia India Institute’s new Director of Security and Geopolitics, Darshana Baruah, to discuss the latest geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific, Australia-India, and the Quad as well as her visions for the Institute’s Security and Geopolitics program. Lisa and Darshana explore the criticisms behind the Quad, discuss per...

Following the success of the inaugural Australia India Renewables Dialogue in Sydney, this episode of Chats Over Chai features a key delegate at the dialogue, Mr JP Chalasani, Group CEO of leading Indian wind energy firm, Suzlon.  Lisa and JP Chalasani discuss his rich experience in the renewables sector and how Australia and India can continue to place themselves as renewable energy superpowers i...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by Australian-Indian writers hailing from different parts of the diaspora in a powerful panel discussion celebrating our country’s diversity and their unique experiences growing up.   The discussion was conducted at the book launch event of “Growing Up Indian in Australia” by Aarti Betigeri in Melbourne. The anthology is a colourful and...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh discusses India's rapid modernisation with Dr. Reuben Abraham, CEO of Artha Global. The pair delve into India’s increasing urbanisation and digitalisation and how this transformation is advancing India’s goal of becoming a developed economy by 2047- the 100th year of India’s independence.   Lisa and Reuben converse on how urbanisation is unfo...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh and British-Bangladeshi author Mohammad Chowdhury discuss his book “Border Crossings – My Journey as an Outsider”, a life story that intersects cultural and societal differences within countries as well as across borders.  Lisa and Mohammad trace the journey that migrants face as they move from one country to another, exploring how it feels to cha...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh unpacks the Indian Election results with India’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency, Gopal Baglay. In his first interview on the subject, High Commissioner Baglay discusses the surprise election result for Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.  The 2024 Indian Election was the largest-ever democratic exercise in...

In this special episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh joins Ela Gandhi, a peace activist, politician and granddaughter to Mahatma Gandhi, at the Phoenix Settlement in Durban. Ela Gandhi has devoted her life to carrying forward the legacy of her grandfather, and his values of truth and non-violence. She fought tirelessly to end apartheid and achieve social justice in South Africa. Lisa and Ela...

This episode of Chats Over Chai discusses the story of  the Anzac-India friendship forged amidst the trials of Gallipoli in 1915.     Australia’s most distinguished military social historians, Professor Peter Stanley and the Institute’s defence researcher, Samuel Bashfield unpack the little-known details of the Australia-Indian military connection.     This episode builds on Professor Peter Stanle...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, Head of Communications, Shuba Krishnan sits down with Melburnian comedian, writer and actor Urvi Majumdar to discuss the impact of the Indian diaspora in Victoria.   Urvi moved from India to Australia at the age of 6 and has openly talked about the struggles of juggling two words, having to live up to her parent’s expectations while fill fitting in with the Aust...

The Australia India Institute with CUTS International delivered an ‘In Conversation’ for CUTS 40th anniversary on Critical Minerals for Security and Prosperity: The role the Quad should play. This insightful panel featured Mr Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General at CUTS International and Associate Professor Mohan Yellishetty from Monash University and was moderated by Australia India Institute CEO,...

In this episode of Chats Over Chat, CEO Lisa Singh hosts a delegation of Indian female MPs and delves into inclusive governance and women’s political empowerment. Joining Lisa is Agatha Sangma; from Tura, Meghalaya; Heena Gavit from Nandurbar, Maharashtra; and Fauzia Khan from Maharashtra.  Under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Canberra Fellowships Program, this visit aims to foster...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO, Lisa Singh and Federal Member for Parramatta, Dr Andrew Charlton MP, delve into his new book, ‘Australia’s Pivot to India’, recently launched by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.  Recorded in one of the hearts of the Indian diaspora in Australia, Parramatta, they trace the Australia-India relationship from "Acquaintances to Friends to Family to Partners...

The Institute is honoured that this episode of Chats Over Chai comes to you from the spiritual city of Dharamshala in the Indian Himalayas.  The beautiful Himalayas are home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibetan diaspora, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and our special guest, Sikyong Penpa Tsering. This follows from the visit the Sikyong made to the Institute earlier this year. Penpa Ts...

In this episode of Chats Over Chai, the institute hears from a Nagaland leader and senior lecturer in Modern Asia at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Arkotong Longkumer, who highlights intercultural learning and shares Naga stories and experiences. The journey of repatriation of Naga ancestral human remains from the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford invites a process of peace, healing and reconciliatio...

In this episode of Chats over Chai Ambassador Vohra and CEO Lisa Singh unpack India’s journey since independence, how its relationship with Australia has evolved since that time, and the incredible future for India and its people.  Ambassador Vohra's remarkable journey as the Indian High Commissioner to Australia has left an indelible mark on the bilateral relationship. Appointed to role in A...

In this episode of Chats over Chai, we're celebrating the International Day of Yoga! Join us for a special conversation with Alan Goode, the Director of Yoga Mandir in Canberra, as we dive into his yoga journey. Hosted by Dr. Surjeet Dhanji, Director of Cultural Diplomacy at the Australia India Institute, this episode explores Alan's experiences, teachings, and profound reflections on th...

In this episode of Chats over Chai, Dr Surjeet Dhanji, Director of Cultural Diplomacy at the Australia India Institute interviews Poornima Garg, the Country Director of Room to Read India. Room to Read is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to improving literacy and promoting gender equality in education. With a focus on early childhood literacy, Room to Read empowers teachers to teach chil...

In this special episode of the Australia India Institute’s podcast, we explore the life and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi with Professor Bindu Puri, one of the foremost Gandhian scholars in the world. As part of the Institute’s Visiting Fellows Program, Professor Puri visited Australia from Jawaharlal Nehru University for a conversation with Lisa Singh titled ‘Gandhi: on the Good Human Life’ hosted...

In this episode of Chats over Chai, Lisa Singh interviews Nitin Pai, co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution – an independent think tank and school of public policy based in Bangalore.   Nitin delves into high tech in geopolitics, Australia-India tech cooperation, U.S-China competition, what AUKUS means for India and the importance of open-source technologies in today’s Information...

 In this episode of the Australia India Institute’s Chats over Chai podcast, Surjeet Dhanji interviews Ateev Dang, a multilingual stand-up comedian based in Melbourne. Dang shares his experience as a Hindi-speaking comedian in Australia and gives insights into his creative process for writing and performing new material. Join Surjeet and Ateev for a conversation on the importance of stand-up comed...

In this episode of Chats over Chai, Sarah Whyte, Head of Strategic Communications, interviews Mr. Manish Gupta on his tenure as Consul General of India in Sydney. CG Gupta shares the extraordinary growth in the bilateral relationship during his posting, the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought to both nations and his newly acquired appreciation of the Australian coastline.

In this episode of Chats over Chai, Dr Surjeet Dhanji, Director of Cultural Diplomacy and Manager of Victorian Government Projects at the Australia India Institute, interviews Shwetali Sawant, founder of the Indian Bazaar. The Indian Bazaar is a social enterprise that supports small businesses through events, exhibitions, and pop-up markets. During the interview, Shwetali discusses her background...

In this podcast, the Institute's CEO Lisa Singh sits down with the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs in Australia, Hon. Tim Watts MP at his office in Parliament House to discuss the role of technology in enhancing the bilateral relationship between Australia and India.  In this episode, Assistant Minister Watts shares the importance of projecting a modern Australia in India through new t...

In this first Chats over Chai podcast for 2023, disability reformer Professor Bruce Bonyhady and disability advocate and researcher Professor Nathan Grills, share valuable perspectives on how Australia and India can work together to improve the lives of people with disability.  They explore the economic benefits of investing in people with disability in both countries, and how innovative solutions...