Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Ph.D., is the keynote speaker at the 2026 Commencement ceremony for the USC Price School of Public Policy. Watch the full ceremony here: youtu.be/fDq22N_ehew
Rudd, who is the incoming President and CEO of Asia Society, also served as Australia’s Foreign Minister and, more recently, the country’s Ambassador to the U.S. from March 2023 to April 2026. He was a member of the Australian Parliament from 1998 to 2013.
Rudd served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 before returning to the role in 2013. As Prime Minister, Rudd oversaw the government’s response to the 2008 financial crisis, helping Australia avoid a recession, largely due to economic stimulus packages.
He also ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are the prime cause of climate change, and withdrew Australian troops from the Iraq War.
As Ambassador to the U.S., Rudd worked with diplomats under U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, playing key roles in securing multi-billion dollar trade deals.
Rudd is also a leading analyst of China and the founder and co-chair of the National Apology Foundation, which advances reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Congratulations to all the graduates!
#PriceGrad2026 #2026Trojan #USCGrad
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Ph.D., is the keynote speaker at the 2026 Commencement ceremony for the USC Price School of Public Policy. Watch the full ceremony here: youtu.be/fDq22N_ehew
Rudd, who is the incoming President and CEO of Asia Society, also served as Australia’s Foreign Minister and, more recently, the country’s Ambassador to the U.S. from March 2023 to April 2026. He was a member of the Australian Parliament from 1998 to 2013.
Rudd served as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 before returning to the role in 2013. As Prime Minister, Rudd oversaw the government’s response to the 2008 financial crisis, helping Australia avoid a recession, largely due to economic stimulus packages.
He also ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are the prime cause of climate change, and withdrew Australian troops from the Iraq War.
As Ambassador to the U.S., Rudd worked with diplomats under U.S. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump, playing key roles in securing multi-billion dollar trade deals.
Rudd is also a leading analyst of China and the founder and co-chair of the National Apology Foundation, which advances reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Congratulations to all the graduates!
#PriceGrad2026 #2026Trojan #USCGrad
