A student at The Australian National University (ANU) will work in Geneva on an eight-week internship with Australia’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Zack Drury understands it’s the first time the mission has offered the opportunity, which will run 30 May-29 July.

“I’ll be working with the Second Secretary, shadowing him in a negotiating-type role,” Zack explains.

“The Permanent Mission does a lot of aid-for-trade programs as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s foreign policy program, which includes helping countries remove protectionist policies by offering aid to help them into the global market.”

Its diplomats also represent Australia’s interests in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Zack learned about the opportunity while undertaking the University’s unique Washington Internship in January 2016.

The second-year Bachelor of International Relations student worked for Texas Democrat, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. 

“I was very lucky as I got to write Congressional record statements, constituency correspondence, some policy recommendations and prepare events for her – a very broad range of things in her office,” Zack recalls.

“That inspired me to look abroad, and a friend of mine in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade saw the work I was doing in DC and directed me towards this internship.

“They were incredibly impressed by the ANU, by the internship they offer in DC that gives you a broad range of skills and a lot of experience at a young age.”

The Geneva application involved addressing a detailed selection criteria and a lengthy telephone interview.

“I hope to be able to get a real understanding of how the negotiation process works, as you can’t have politics without trade, so I think it’s a fundamental point of international relations,” Zack says.

“In much the same way that working in DC allowed me to sharpen my skills and get used to a very dynamic environment, I imagine the WTO will be much the same.”

Zack’s internship is being supported financially by the ANU School of Politics and International Relations.

“The School’s been incredibly generous with their financial assistance and time and rescheduling my assessment to assist me getting over there,” Zack says.

“I’m doing the Geneva trip as part of the Australian National Internships Program (ANIP). When I return I’ll be working on another major essay focussed on the dealings of the WTO.”

Zack encourages all ANU students to apply for the ANIP scheme, and also consider Australia’s diplomatic offices for international experience.

“I couldn’t stress enough, if people want to do this sort of thing, go to the web sites of the embassies and see what’s available for locally-engaged staff.”

Zack acknowledges the hard work and financial commitment required for students to undertake such opportunities, and believes the opportunities obtained from the process are incredibly valuable.