Ms Melissa Hitchman
Currently on leave from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Melissa also has experience in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and former Bureau of Industry Economics. She served as Australia’s first resident female Ambassador to the Holy See, as well as in London and Dublin. Career highlights include working on the election of Natasha Stott Despoja to the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (2020); Independent Review of the Intelligence Community (2011); Secretariat for the International Commission for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, a joint initiative of Australia and Japan under Chairs The Hon Gareth Evans AC KC and Yoriko Kawaguchi (2008-2010); EU Single Market (1990s); and the phased lifting of Commonwealth sanctions against South Africa (1990s).
Melissa’s research builds on her contribution to Australia’s multilateral engagement on gender at the Human Rights Council, UNGA, G20, EAS, APEC, and the Commonwealth (2020-2022). It considers Australia’s commitment to the Women Peace and Security agenda under UNSCR1325 through the second National Action Plan 2021-2031. Implementation included negotiation of a Framework for Civil-Society Engagement on WPS, management of multi-million-dollar investments, and whole-of-government coordination which she had the privilege of leading (2020-2022). Melissa’s research also draws on her involvement in DFAT’s Women in Leadership strategy (2015-2020), Women with a Mission publication (2006), and Women with a Mission lecture program at the National Press Club (1995). Melissa received the Order of Pope Pius IX Grand Cross for furthering bilateral relations between Australia and the Holy See (2019) and was a member of teams which received Secretary’s Citations for contributions to Australia’s COVID-19 response (2021) and Ukraine Crisis (2023).
Research Interest
Journal Article
Stephenson, Elise, and Melissa Hitchman and Jack Hayes. 2025. Diversity in Diplomacy, Australian Journal of International Affairs (forthcoming).
Conference Papers
Hitchman, Melissa. 2023. In the Diplomatic Bag: Women Negotiating from Crisis to Complexity, Australian Political Studies Association, University of Sydney, Australia, 27-30 November 2023.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2024. Leading and Lagging: A Record of Women in Five Eyes’ Diplomacy, Gender and Politics Workshop, ANU, Australia, 13 March 2024.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2024. Building Connections: the Language of Diplomacy, International Studies Association Conference, Virtual, 1 August 2024.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2025. Women with a Mission: Insiders, Insights and Influence across the Five Eyes, 4th Gender in Diplomacy Conference, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, 22-24 May 2025.
Presentations
Hitchman, Melissa. 2023. Women in Diplomacy, moderated discussion with HE Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand; Melissa Conley Tyler, Executive Director, Asia Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue; and Solstice Middleby, Doctoral Candidate, Adelaide and Massey Universities, 13th Asia-Pacific Week, ANU, Australia, 22 June 2023.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2024. The Role of Women in Diplomacy, International Day of Women in Diplomacy Panel hosted by the Embassies of France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and of Spain, Australia, 24 June 2024.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2024. Women with a Mission: A Study of Five Eyes’ Diplomacy, Stimson Center, United States, 27 September 2024.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2024. Women with a Mission: A Study of Five Eyes’ Diplomacy, University of Ottawa Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Canada, 4 October 2024.
Hitchman, Melissa. 2025, Theory and Practice of Gendered International Security, Australian Political Studies Association, University of Melbourne, Australia, 24-27 November 2025 (forthcoming).
Podcast
Hitchman, Melissa. 2024. The Five Eyes, Women in Diplomacy podcast - Series 2, Episode 1 London School of Economics IDEAS Women in Diplomacy Program, United Kingdom, 19 September 2024.
HDR Supervisor/s
Jane Golley Dr Elise Stephenson, Deputy Director Global Institute for Women's Leadership ANU Em Professor Marian Sawer AO FASSA CASS ANU Professor Rosie Campbell, King's College LondonThesis Title/Topic
Women with a Mission: A Study of Five Eyes' Diplomacy
Expertise Area(s)
Contact Email
melissa.hitchman@anu.edu.auContact Phone
+61 (0) 417 467 476