Benjamin Day

Benjamin Day is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University (ANU). His research focuses on leaders' roles in foreign policy decision-making, particularly how leaders drive policy change. He co-authored *Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory* (3rd ed., 2019), a leading textbook in the field. His recent work explores leaders' 'thinking practices' about global order, informed by elite interviews with over 100 politicians and policymakers.

Education:

• BA (University of Queensland)
• BEcon (University of Queensland)
• MIS (University of Queensland)
• PhD (ANU, 2018)

Research Interests:

• Political Decision Making and Foreign Aid
• Leaders and World Order
• Aid Policy Dynamics
• Elite Influence in Policymaking
• Academia-Policymaker Bridging

Affiliations and Fellowships:

• Partners around the Globe Fellow, NATO Defence College (2025)
• Visiting Fellow, University of Edinburgh (2023)
• Australian National Fellow, King’s College London (2019)
• Centre Associate, ANU Development Policy Centre (since 2016)

Contributions: Regularly publishes in platforms like *The Strategist*, *Devpolicy Blog*, and *The Conversation*. Designs courses for diplomats and public servants via the ANU Diplomacy Forum. Previously worked in international development for a decade, including health sector reform in Papua New Guinea.

Labs/Teams: Active in the ANU’s Development Policy Centre and collaborates with institutions globally to advance policy-relevant research on foreign aid and leadership.