Two UNSW students will see first hand the inner workings of international commerce diplomacy after winning coveted internships at the US Consulate General in Sydney.

Maili Tan and Max Dalton secured two of the four internships offered to university students.  The internships run every year during the summer holiday period and students work full-time in their assigned roles.

Maili is in her second year of a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Economics double degree and will work in the Commercial Service section, while Max, a fourth-year Bachelor of International Studies/Bachelor of Law student, will work in the Public Diplomacy section.

“There’s a whole program laid out for us,” Max said. “We have training at the moment and then we’ll be given actual projects to start on when we return in January. It’s a great opportunity for me, with my background in law and international studies.” 

Although her commerce/economics degrees were not specifically related to diplomacy, Maili believed she would benefit from the global exposure. “Even these disciplines have become very international in their scope, and I think this internship will give me an important edge, in terms of career paths, down the track.” 

Youth outreach was one of the most important objectives of the internship program, the Consulate’s Darion Akins said.

“We are trying to make sure we’re connected with young Australians. We’d like to see more young Australians going to the US just as we’d like to see more young Americans coming here, to reinforce our bilateral relationship with the next generation of decision makers.”

Day-to-day issues the students are expected to handle include promoting trade, organising visits for overseas diplomats and offering services to American citizens such as registering births abroad.

Media contact: Steve Offner, UNSW Media Office | 02 9385 8107