Bec Strating FAIIA is the Director of La Trobe Asia and a Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Her research focuses primarily on Asian regional security, maritime disputes, and Australian foreign and defence policy. Among her books and academic articles, she is the author of ‘Girt by Sea: reimagining Australia’s Security’ with Professor Joanne Wallis (La Trobe University Press/Black Inc, 2024), which was launched by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in April 2024. Bec leads or has led over 20 externally funded research collaborations, and currently leads the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-funded “Blue Security” network focused on maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific. Bec’s research and engagement has received numerous accolades, including most recently a Fulbright Fellowship (2025) and the Bernard Brodie Prize for best article published in Contemporary Security Policy in 2023 (2024).
