Michael Swain was Deputy Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning at the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, leading the team which produced the Defence Assessment 2021 and launched the current Defence Policy Review. He studied at Waikato and Victoria Universities (BA (Hons) in International Politics), and has a Masters in Strategic and Defence Studies from the Australian National University. Mike has extensive experience in the New Zealand national security system, including in the National Security Group of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His diplomatic postings include Beijing, New Delhi, Shanghai, and Madrid; alongside foreign policy and international security, a consistent focus was supporting New Zealand business to internationalise in the China, India and EU markets. Between assignments he provides independent advice on strategy, geopolitics and internationalisation, and research to support critical thinking on New Zealand national security, defence and foreign policy.
