CEO Lisa Singh joins Melbourne-born chef and MasterChef Australia finalist Kishwar Chowdhury to delve into the cultural stories behind her new book 'Smoke, Rice, Water', for this episode of Chats Over Chai.

Drawing on her experience as a second-generation migrant, Kishwar shares stories of cooking Bengali dishes combined with local produce and methods. Her personal approach to Bengali cuisine has resonated with audiences around the world, as well as through her work as an advocate for food security, elevating Bengali identities globally.

The Australia India Institute hosted ‘Transforming Lives Through Education: In Conversation with Asha Founder Dr Kiran Martin' at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday, May 13.

Meaning ‘hope’ in Hindi, Asha has helped more than a million people living in slum communities in Delhi through its healthcare services, education and community development programmes since Dr Kiran Martin began working in communities in 1988.

Today, Asha’s education program has helped more than 5000 students receive a university degree – both in India and abroad. Through partnerships with higher education institutions in Australia, Asha is helping students become leaders and changemakers amongst their communities.

In this In Conversation with CEO Lisa Singh, Dr Martin reflected on her work with Delhi’s most vulnerable communities, and how long‑term, cross‑cultural education partnerships are reshaping lives.

In the latest episode of Chats over Chai, Head of Cultural Diplomacy Sudip Chakraborty sits down with the artists behind the Indo Jazz-Fusion band The Three Seas - a dynamic collaboration between Indian folk musicians and Australian Jazz musicians - to explore how music can bridge cultures and create new soundscapes.

Artists Matt Keegan, Raju Das Baul, Gaurab Chatterjee, Deo Ashish Mothey and Amy Curl reflect on the bands formation, their Australian tour for their new album Antahkarana and the growing cross-cultural artistic exchange between Australia and India.

In the latest episode of Chats Over Chai, Research Fellow Dr Alice Garner is joined by Helene Rooks, CEO of the Vocational and Applied Learning Association and Jaynifer Iqbal, teacher at Delhi Public School to discuss how teachers can learn from each other to deliver more practical, skills-based education.

Drawing on a bilateral collaboration between India and Australia, the conversation reflects on the development of the Tools for Applied Learning in Secondary Schools, an initiative that helps teachers design engaging lessons, assess real-world skills, and build confidence in applied learning. Alice, Jaynifer and Helene also discuss the importance of teachers sharing ideas, experiences and support through professional networks to improve classroom practice.

In the latest episode of Chats Over Chai, CEO Lisa Singh sits down with Dr Preeti Mudliar, CAIR Maitri Fellow, to explore how digital infrastructure is reshaping welfare systems, food security and concepts of citizenship.

Lisa and Preeti unpack India’s biometric-mediated food security system, examine the growing role of technology in governance, and discuss how digital infrastructure is redefining the concept of substantive citizenship globally.

The Institute hosted an panel discussion on ‘Two Decades of Australia-India Relations: Insights from High Commissioners Past and Present’ in Delhi on Thursday, 5 March.

Moderated by CEO Lisa Singh, the panel featured current Australian High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Philip Green OAM (2023 – present) and former Australian High Commissioner’s to India, Mr Patrick Suckling (2013-2016) and Mr John McCarthy AO (2004 – 2009).

This first-of-its-kind event provided rare insights into the minds of Australia’s leading diplomats through a high-level discussion exploring the evolution of the Australia India relationship across education, economic cooperation, security development and broader areas of bilateral interest over the past two decades.

In the latest episode of Chats over Chai, Research Fellow Alice Garner sits down with Piyali Somaia, founder of Kahini, for a conversation on culture, community and creative pathways to wellbeing.

Piyali reflects on her family’s migration journey to Australia and how it has shaped her work through Kahini, an organisation that brings together art, health, community and collaboration to deliver innovative solutions. Alice and Piyali delve into how creative spaces can support newly arrived and diverse communities, and why art is such a powerful tool for wellbeing and connection.

In the first episode of Chats over Chai for 2026, CEO Lisa Singh sat down with Victorian Member for Mulgrave, Eden Foster MP, for a thoughtful and timely conversation about cultural diversity in Australia’s democracy.

As the first woman of Indian heritage elected to Victoria’s Legislative Assembly, Eden shares her personal journey into public life and reflects on what meaningful representation looks like in practice. Together, Lisa and Eden explore how we can build stronger connections across communities and foster a genuine sense of belonging in multicultural Australia.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on how cultural diversity in democracy has evolved - and why inclusive representation remains essential for a thriving, multicultural society.