Building Australia's China knowledge and engagement
Established at Macquarie University in 2026, the China Strategic Knowledge Initiative (CSKI) aims to strengthen Australia’s knowledge base and policy engagement on China through rigorous scholarship and meaningful public outreach.
CSKI will conduct its work through a post-doctoral fellowship program, active engagement with our Australian and international network of China experts, China-related programming and policy research.
Our people
The Co-Directors of the China Strategic Knowledge Initiative are Associate Professor Dr Courtney J Fung and Honorary Professor Dr Bates Gill. They bring more than 60 years combined China experience to CSKI, including extensive experience living, working and conducting research and outreach in China.
They have led dialogue and research initiatives with Chinese counterparts on arms control, global governance, global health, non-proliferation and peacekeeping.
Both maintain strong institutional and professional networks in China and with the Australian and international China-watching community.
Funding
The China Strategic Knowledge Initiative was launched with generous funding from the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations along with matching funds and in-kind support from Macquarie University.
The China Strategic Knowledge Initiative will oversee a program of full-time postdoctoral fellowships commencing in 2027. This will be a 12-month, residential position based at Macquarie University designed to support emerging scholars whose research informs Australia’s understanding of contemporary China.
This fellowship is intended to strengthen policy-relevant scholarship and public engagement on China’s foreign policy, security, defence and domestic politics.
The successful candidate will contribute to research excellence while actively engaging and informing government, media and the broader policy community.
This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for an early-career scholar to develop a strong research profile while contributing to Australia’s public and policy conversations on China.
More information on the fellowship will be available in late 2026.