Milton Osborne

Milton Osborne’s early experience in Australia’s Phnom Penh embassy has shaped the rest of his life, which remains centred on Southeast Asia. After completing his doctorate at Cornell and holding various academic appointments he returned to government service as Head of the Asia Branch of the Office of National Assessments in 1982. Since 1993 he has been a full-time writer and consultant on Southeast Asian subjects. He is the author of ten books including ‘Southeast Asia: An Introductory History’, now in its 12th edition. He has been a Non-resident Fellow at the Lowy Institute and in 2013 the French government honoured him with the appointment as a Comandeur de l’Ordre National du Mérite for his writing on France in Asia and his role in liaison with French officials.