Natasha Kassam

Director, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program
Areas of expertise

China’s domestic politics; public opinion polling; human rights; Australian foreign policy; Taiwan; Indo-Pacific strategy

Natasha Kassam
Biography
Publications
News and media

Natasha Kassam was Director of the Lowy Institute's Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program from 2019 to 2022, directing the annual Lowy Institute Poll and researching China’s politics, Taiwan, and Australia-China relations.

She was a Fellow of the ANU National Security College’s Futures Council for 2020-21 and a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Melbourne’s Asian Law Centre. Natasha is a regular contributor to Australian and international media outlets including CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC and The New York Times.

Prior to joining the Lowy Institute, Natasha was an Australian diplomat in China and Solomon Islands. She was a part of the drafting team for the Australian government’s 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) and a Bachelor of International Studies from the University of Sydney and speaks Mandarin.

Beyond Fortress Australia
Interactives
Beyond Fortress Australia
The reality of living in a pandemic has dawned on Australia. Covid cases at the time of writing are high and still climbing. The virus is here to stay. Equally clear is that ring…
Taipei’s growing legion of friends
Taipei’s growing legion of friends
There’s serious regional clout behind Taiwan’s goal of peace and stability.
Lowy Institute Conversations: Michelle Grattan and Katharine Murphy on Australian foreign policy from the Canberra Press Gallery
Podcasts
Lowy Institute Conversations: Michelle Grattan and Katharine Murphy on Australian foreign policy from the Canberra Press Gallery
In this episode of Conversations, Natasha Kassam talks with Michelle Grattan and Katharine Murphy about China, climate policy and COVID-19, and what to expect from…
By the numbers: Charting the Australia-China relationship in decline
By the numbers: Charting the Australia-China relationship in decline
Trust has plummeted and concern about China’s military is growing. And Australians point a finger of blame at Beijing.
Lowy Institute Poll 2021
Polling
Lowy Institute Poll 2021
In this its seventeenth year, the Lowy Institute Poll continues to chart how Australians feel about the world and its challenges, including COVID, China and climate change.
Fear of military conflict on the rise in Australia
Commentary
Fear of military conflict on the rise in Australia
In an opinion piece originally published in The Australian newspaper, Lowy Institute director of public opinion and foreign policy Natasha Kassam and research director…
Climate Poll 2021
Polling
Climate Poll 2021
Climate Poll 2021 by the Lowy Institute reports the results of a nationally representative survey on attitudes to climate change
Stoking fears of war could serve China’s goals. Australian policy needs rethinking
Commentary
Stoking fears of war could serve China’s goals. Australian policy needs rethinking
Tensions in the region are escalating, but trumpeting the coming threat of war plays into Beijing’s goals and risks undermining Taiwan further. Originally published in The…
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