Emma and Sharon delve into Australia and The United States special bilateral relationship. Why is The United States considered as Australia’s greatest ally? What common values do they share? What is the role of a Consul General? Why has the United States been more affected by COVID-19 than Australia? What does this mean for the US’s role as an economic powerhouse? What is the future of their relationship?

• Sharon Hudson-Dean is a career American diplomat currently serving as U.S. Consul General in Sydney, Australia.  Ms. Hudson-Dean was the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Nordic/Baltic Affairs in the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau at the Department of State from 2017-18.  Prior to that, she served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia for three years. She has also represented the United States in Georgia, Russia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Nepal, and Australia.