NEW YORK, NY.- The Board of Trustees of Asia Society announced today that the Honorable Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Ambassador to the United States, will return to lead the Asia Society from its global headquarters in New York on March 31, 2026. Dr. Rudd will also serve as President of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) and will assume a leading role with ASPI’s Center for China Analysis, which he established in 2022. He succeeds Kyung-wha Kang, who stepped down as Asia Society President and CEO in October to serve as the Republic of Korea’s top diplomat in the United States. Dr. Rudd will also be actively engaged in ASPI’s Washington office, particularly through the Center for China Analysis, in his ongoing engagement across the U.S. system on China policy.

Dr. Rudd served as Asia Society’s President and CEO (2021-2023) and the inaugural President of ASPI (2015-2023). A distinguished diplomat, China scholar, and leading voice on Indo-Pacific and Asia-Pacific affairs, he led Asia Society and ASPI in aggressively pursuing its mission to navigate common futures on major policy challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific in security, prosperity, sustainability, and the development of common norms and values in the region. During his tenure, Dr. Rudd developed the world-class Center for China Analysis within ASPI. From the Institute’s beginning, Dr. Rudd established ASPI as a leading global think-and-do tank, ranking in the top one percent of think tanks worldwide, with a distinctive voice and position in the global dialogue. During his Asia Society presidency, he also led the establishment of two new locations—in Paris (Asia Society’s first in the European Union) and Seattle (focused on AI and technology). Given the current challenges facing the Asia-Pacific and world, in his upcoming tenure, he will expand the Policy Institute’s presence in Washington, D.C., and deepen the Society’s critical focus on public policy, arts, culture, and education.

Prior to joining Asia Society, Dr. Rudd served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister (2007-2010, 2013) and as Foreign Minister (2010-2012). He is a fluent Mandarin speaker and leading international authority on China. He began his career as a China scholar, serving as an Australian diplomat in Beijing before entering Australian politics. He is the author of two major books on China and U.S.-China relations: On Xi Jinping (2024) and The Avoidable War (2022).

As Prime Minister, he led Australia’s response during the Global Financial Crisis, recognized by the IMF as the most effective stimulus strategy of all member states. Dr. Rudd co-founded the G20 Summit to drive the global response to the crisis. Most recently as Ambassador, he was instrumental in negotiating a groundbreaking U.S.-Australia Critical Minerals Framework and remains sought after for his unparalleled expertise on China.

“We are thrilled that Kevin has accepted the Board’s invitation to lead Asia Society at such a critical moment for the institution, the Asia-Pacific, and the world. He is a true statesman and a visionary leader with peerless experience,” said John L. Thornton and Chan Heng Chee, Co-Chairs, Asia Society Board of Trustees.

“I am honored that the Board has chosen me for this important and impactful role. Asia Society is respected as one of the smartest, leading-edge, and distinguished institutions in the global think tank, artistic, and cultural diplomacy communities and I have been fortunate to have already played a part in its success. I look forward to continuing my work with the truly first-class global staff at Asia Society,” said Dr. Rudd.

Asia Society is the leading nonpartisan, nonprofit global organization dedicated to best-in-class analysis of developments across the Asia-Pacific region, and to forging partnerships between the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia, the United States, and the rest of the world. An interdisciplinary organization, Asia Society navigates shared futures for Asia and the world across the fields of policy, business, technology, sustainability, arts and culture, and education.

Founded in 1956 and celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, Asia Society has in recent years expanded its footprint, membership, and audiences across the globe, engaging stakeholders in 16 locations worldwide. Headquartered in New York, Asia Society has state-of-the-art cultural centers and gallery spaces in Hong Kong and Houston, and offices in Delhi, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Mumbai, Paris, San Francisco, Seattle, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo, Washington, D.C., and Zurich.