Chats Over Chai

In the latest episode of Chat’s Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by Ms Manika Jain, former Consul General for India, Melbourne, for a conversation on womens representation in diplomacy.

Manika  shares her personal journey as a woman in diplomacy over three decades, and the pair reflect on the barriers, opportunities and potential impact women can create within the Australia-India relationship and in global affairs.

In this latest episode of Chat’s Over Chai, Head of Cultural Diplomacy Sudip Chakraborty sits down with Kho Kho Australia founder Raj Sura. 

Sudip and Raj reflect on the growth of Kho Kho - a traditional Indian game - in Australia, and advancements in the Australia-India sporting relationship ahead of the Institute’s Khel Connect: Sports Symposium in Chennai later this month.  

To find out more about the Symposium: https://aii.unimelb.edu.au/programs/education/khel-connect-australia-india-sports-education-innovation-pathways/

In the latest episode of Chat’s over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by Rajiv Dube, Independent Director at Tata International Ltd and Australia India Institute board member, to unpack India’s economic rise and the impact of soft power diplomacy in enhancing the Australia-India relationship. 

Rajiv reflects on the journey of Tata Group, Tata Trust’s work across education and research, and its impact within India and globally.

In this latest episode of Chat's over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh is joined by India’s new High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency Nagesh Singh, on the eve of India's 80th Independence Day. 

Lisa and High Commissioner Singh reflect on the significance of India's freedom struggle and its journey since Independence, explore High Commissioner Singh’s arrival in Canberra, the growth of Australia–India relations and the future opportunities for India, its people and the Australia–India partnership.

The Institute’s CEO Lisa Singh and Research Fellow Teesta Prakash unpack the youth led Cockroach movement in this latest episode of our Chats over Chai.

The movement saw tens of thousands of Indian youth take to the streets to protest the handling of NEET (medical entry) examination papers, culminating in the resignation of India's Education Minister and the announcement of a government led taskforce to reform the exam system.

They unpack what this means for India’s youth and their future.

With Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi's visit to Australia this week, CEO Lisa Singh joins Australian parliamentarian Tim Watts MP, Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, for the latest episode of Chats Over Chai. 

The pair unpack the opportunities in the bilateral relationship, six years into the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the role of the Indian diaspora for Australia India ties. They also discuss a new parliamentary report following an inquiry on Asia Capability that Tim Watts chaired, exploring how the pipeline in Asia literacy can be addressed. 

CEO Lisa Singh joins Melbourne-born chef and MasterChef Australia finalist Kishwar Chowdhury to delve into the cultural stories behind her new book 'Smoke, Rice, Water', for this episode of Chats Over Chai.

Drawing on her experience as a second-generation migrant, Kishwar shares stories of cooking Bengali dishes combined with local produce and methods. Her personal approach to Bengali cuisine has resonated with audiences around the world, as well as through her work as an advocate for food security, elevating Bengali identities globally.

The Australia India Institute hosted ‘Transforming Lives Through Education: In Conversation with Asha Founder Dr Kiran Martin' at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday, May 13. 

Meaning ‘hope’ in Hindi, Asha has helped more than a million people living in slum communities in Delhi through its healthcare services, education and community development programmes since Dr Kiran Martin began working in communities in 1988.

Today, Asha’s education program has helped more than 5000 students receive a university degree – both in India and abroad. Through partnerships with higher education institutions in Australia, Asha is helping students become leaders and changemakers amongst their communities.

In this In Conversation with CEO Lisa Singh, Dr Martin reflected on her work with Delhi’s most vulnerable communities, and how long‑term, cross‑cultural education partnerships are reshaping lives.

In the latest episode of Chats over Chai, Head of Cultural Diplomacy Sudip Chakraborty sits down with the artists behind the Indo Jazz-Fusion band The Three Seas - a dynamic collaboration between Indian folk musicians and Australian Jazz musicians - to explore how music can bridge cultures and create new soundscapes.

Artists Matt Keegan, Raju Das Baul, Gaurab Chatterjee, Deo Ashish Mothey and Amy Curl reflect on the bands formation, their Australian tour for their new album Antahkarana and the growing cross-cultural artistic exchange between Australia and India.

In the latest episode of Chats Over Chai, Research Fellow Dr Alice Garner is joined by Helene Rooks, CEO of the Vocational and Applied Learning Association and Jaynifer Iqbal, teacher at Delhi Public School to discuss how teachers can learn from each other to deliver more practical, skills-based education.

Drawing on a bilateral collaboration between India and Australia, the conversation reflects on the development of the Tools for Applied Learning in Secondary Schools, an initiative that helps teachers design engaging lessons, assess real-world skills, and build confidence in applied learning. Alice, Jaynifer and Helene also discuss the importance of teachers sharing ideas, experiences and support through professional networks to improve classroom practice.