Tuesday 10 February 2026: 2025 Scholarship recipient Max Martin is an international relations scholar determined to contribute to Australia’s diplomatic and strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific. With his Postgraduate Scholarship, he is studying his second year of a Master of Arts in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C., focusing on economics and strategy.
Originally from Perth, Max studied Economics and Finance at the University of Western Australia. From there he completed one year at SAIS at its Bologna Italy campus, before interning at Australia’s Embassy in Bangkok Thailand, one of Australia’s largest overseas diplomatic posts.
Now in D.C., Max is relishing its centrality to world affairs and SAIS’ access to world-leading policymakers. This past semester his professors have included the former Chief of Staff to the Director of the CIA and a Commissioner for the US Senate’s Afghanistan War Commission. He recently attended a talk by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and had outgoing US Ambassador Kevin Rudd as a guest lecturer.
Reflecting on his scholarship, Max is grateful for the ‘world of opportunity’ it has provided, from a leadership focussed orientation to an ‘extraordinary’ network of scholars, whose achievements and passions inspire him, and who even helped him settle into D.C.. As to what’s next – a study trip of Taipei, Shanghai and Nanjing to finish his capstone course exploring China, Taiwan and US relations, before hopefully interning in D.C. and then exploring opportunities within the Australian Public Service.
In his own words:
My Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship has opened a world of opportunity. I was drawn to the Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship by the Ramsay Centre’s clear vision, shaped by the late Paul Ramsay AO, of enabling Australians to study at leading tertiary institutions to further understand and shape our nation as well as the world. The Ramsay Centre’s lecture series further illustrated to me the Centre’s desire to be involved in the broader discourse of Australia’s place in the world. Lectures by renowned international relations expert Professor Michael Wesley and Former Deputy Prime Minister Kim Beazley about Australia’s strategic positioning in an era of renewed geopolitical competition especially piqued my interest. This serious and deliberate engagement with debates on Australia’s future in the international system ignited my aspiration to be involved with the Ramsay Centre and its mission.
It was an honour to be named a 2025 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholar. The scholarship has provided me with the financial support needed to complete the final year of my Master of Arts in International Relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The generosity of the Ramsay Centre has given me the financial security to be able to fully focus on my studies. However, the benefits of the program stretch far beyond this. Upon receiving the scholarship, I was immersed in an extraordinary network of fellow scholars, whose achievements and passion continue to inspire me. These scholars are enrolled in leading universities across the UK, Europe and North America, studying History, Medicine, Science, and the Arts, however, we are all linked through our connection with the Ramsay Centre and its goal of promoting the study of Western Civilisation.
My time as a Ramsay Scholar has been full of highlights. These began with meeting the rest of the 2025 Ramsay Postgraduate Scholar cohort during the scholarship orientation held in Sydney. A few days of getting to know my fellow scholars as well as listening to guest lecturers and partaking in leadership and career masterclasses was great preparation for my time in Washington, D.C.. My time at Johns Hopkins has been full of phenomenal learning opportunities with a recent highlight being able to sit front row to listen to a talk given by Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she spoke about decision-making in times of international crisis. Living in the heart of American culture, history and democracy has been a further highlight. With the Johns Hopkins SAIS campus across the road from the National Mall, I have had plenty of opportunities to take in the US Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials. These symbols of American history, democracy and nation-building continue to inspire my reflections on the United States’ significant contributions to the liberal democratic order, the backbone of modern Western Civilisation, and the challenges and opportunities which this order faces in these uncertain times.
Studying at Johns Hopkins SAIS has been an unparalleled experience. SAIS’ emphasis on policymaking has meant that every class is highly relevant and focused on solving the most pressing and complicated issues pertaining to international relations. The faculty is comprised of leading scholars and practitioners. In my most recent semester, a few of my professors included the former Chief of Staff to the Director of the CIA and a Commissioner for the US Senate’s Afghanistan War Commission. Classroom learning is supplemented by a steady supply of insightful guest speakers, ranging from the now former Australian Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd to the COO of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Mark Tatum. However, the most enriching part of my studies at SAIS is engaging with the talented and diverse cohort of students. The plethora of experiences, skills, and backgrounds amongst my peers means that every conversation is a chance to learn something new. Furthermore, as the only Australian on campus I feel privileged and challenged to represent our unique culture and identity to my classmates and professors.
As I enter my final semester at SAIS, there has been a blend of reflection of what I have learnt so far and excitement for what should be an eventful final few months before I graduate in May. My studies have focused on Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and China, where I have been interested in the behaviour of middle power states in an era of renewed great power competition. Furthermore, I seek to explore how the decision-making of these middle powers is further complicated by a global shift from globalisation to geoeconomics with the reordering of supply chains and nationalisation of strategic emerging technologies. My final semester provides me with the chance to synthesise my studies and finish my time at SAIS with a clear knowledge base and skillset. Part of this synthesis is the completion of my capstone course which is a course exploring China, Taiwan and US relations and involves a week-long study trip to Taipei, Shanghai, and Nanjing in March. The ability to meet with policymakers, academics and private sector representatives in China and Taiwan is an experience which I am very much looking forward to and will greatly improve my knowledge and perspective on the issues facing these nations. Further to my studies in this final semester, I am undertaking a position as the Australian Foreign Policy Fellow at Young Australians in International Affairs, a non-profit promoting the engagement of young Australians in topics surrounding international affairs. By writing regular op-eds for their Insights Blog, I hope to apply some of the insights and skills I have gained at SAIS and apply them to our own foreign policy discourse. Following graduation, I hope to make the most of the Optional Practical Training as a part of my US student visa and intern for think tanks or geopolitical consultancies in D.C. before looking to return to Australia and explore opportunities within the Australian Public Service.
My transition into life in Washington, D.C. was made an incredibly smooth process due to the warmth and generosity of the Ramsay community. Once my position as a scholar was announced, I was immediately contacted by a fellow Ramsay scholar who is currently based in D.C., welcoming me to the program and asking if I needed any assistance settling in. Since then, I have been welcomed into a community of Australians in D.C. through this connection and have had the opportunity to visit fellow Ramsay scholars at St Johns College in Annapolis.
Beyond the books, I have had the chance to explore parts of the United States’ East Coast. Trips to New York, Virginia and Maryland have broken up the otherwise rigorous schedule at SAIS and spending Thanksgiving in Massachusetts was a quintessential American cultural experience.
Interested in a Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship? Our scholarships support young Australian leaders to study at the world’s best overseas universities and are valued at up to AUD$100,000 p.a.
Applications for 2026 will be open from 2 February to 23 March 2026. For more information visit: https://ramsaypostgradscholarship.com/
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org