In this episode of The Director’s Chair, Michael Fullilove speaks with Julia Gillard, Australia’s 27th Prime Minister. Julia Gillard was Deputy Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 and then served as Australia’s first female Prime Minister from 2010 to 2013. Michael and Julia talk about the Australia-US alliance, China’s role in Asia, and the importance of the UN and the Quad. Julia reflects on Australia’s role in the Afghanistan war, what COVID has revealed about the UK and Australia, and world leaders she admires. This episode was recorded on Thursday 26 August, before the attacks at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.