FEEDBACK & REVIEWS
Not Always Diplomatic
An Australian Woman’s Journey through International Affairs
by Sue Boyd
Below you’ll find kind words of feedback readers have generously provided, as well as book written reviews.
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FEEDBACK FROM COLLEAGUES AND REVIEWERS
GARETH EVANS
Foreign Minister 1988-96
“An engaging account of life at the coalface by one of Australia’s most active and effective diplomats – and real pathfinder in leading our diplomatic establishment out of its sexist dark age.”
IMRANA JALAL
The World Bank
“A thoroughly engaging read. Sue’s book took me for a walk down memory lane, remembering the tumultuous events of 2000 in Fiji and the fall-out thereafter. Sue has a rare understanding of the Pacific islands and its peoples. An enjoyable read. Part of it made me laugh out loud. From a gender perspective, it offers intuitions into the difficulties faced by women attempting to pierce the glass ceiling. Sue faced those difficulties with good humour and common sense, partly explaining why she has had such a successful career.”
PETER EDWARDS
Australian diplomatic historian
“Susan Boyd was not a stereotypical Australian Diplomat of the late 20th century. Born into a British military family, this single (but not celibate) woman with a ribald sense of humour found herself more than once defending Australia’s s interest in a major political crisis. Her engaging memoir should be read by anyone interested in Australian diplomacy, and anyone interested in a woman’s experience in what was, and to a lesser degree remains, a predominantly male profession.”
ALLAN GYNGELL
National President, Australian Institute of International Affairs
“Sue Boyd's funny, moving, life-filled memoir throws fresh light on Australian diplomacy and social change."
DIANE SMITH-GANDER
Non Executive Director
“Love it! It’s just like talking to you! Just like the conversations I’ve had with the author – full of generous insight and wise counsel and above all, hugely entertaining. Sue is a highly accomplished corporate coach and this book is peppered with good advice on making a great career. Only Sue Boyd can get away with describing herself as a cat presenting the reader with a dead rat. Definitely not always diplomatic.”
BOOK REVIEWS
What Do Diplomats Do between Cocktail Parties?
Sue Boyd’s memoir Not Always Diplomatic: An Australian Woman’s Journey through International Affairs gives a fascinating account of the challenges faced by Boyd and other women joining the Australian foreign service in the second half of the twentieth century, and of the ground-breaking work done by this generation of women in achieving positions of power throughout Australian society.
Her brilliant career
Sue Boyd’s memoir Not Always Diplomatic: An Australian Woman’s Journey through International Affairs gives a fascinating account of the challenges faced by Boyd and other women joining the Australian foreign service in the second half of the twentieth century, and of the ground-breaking work done by this generation of women in achieving positions of power throughout Australian society.
International Feminist Journal of Politics
Sue Boyd’s memoir Not Always Diplomatic: An Australian Woman’s Journey through International Affairs gives a fascinating account of the challenges faced by Boyd and other women joining the Australian foreign service in the second half of the twentieth century, and of the ground-breaking work done by this generation of women in achieving positions of power throughout Australian society.