Episode Synopsis "WASMA Mining and Resources Podcast Episode 23 Rachel Cook US Consul Part 2"

In this podcast we are talking with Rachel Cooke. Rachel Cooke assumed the position of U.S. Consul General in Perth on August 11, 2016 with responsibilities for Western Australia. We talk about her career at NASA (before the foreign service), space mining and the ethics around it, engineering and challenges we are facing. We talk about the Robonaut currently at Woodside and 1 of 2 human like robots in the world, and how this technology is pushing the boundaries of human capabilities. We also discuss her role in the US EPA and how the organisation differs to Australia, reducing the acidification of the oceans and pursuing carbon reducing technology in the future. A career Senior Foreign Service Officer, Rachel has focused more than 20 years of work on building U.S. relationships in Asia and the Pacific.  Immediately prior to taking up her current posting Rachel led the Southeast Asia policy team in Washington, DC.  Before that she spent two years in Afghanistan developing educational opportunities and engaging with the media, and another two years leading joint civilian-military training.  Rachel has also served in Malaysia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, where she was Acting Public Affairs Officer during both the 2005 and 2010 revolutions.   Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Rachel worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and for NASA. She was also a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand teaching fish farming.  Rachel has a B.S. in Marine Biology, and Master degrees in Environmental Management and Public Policy from Indiana University.  Having grown up on the beach in New Jersey, she is delighted to have the opportunity to serve in Western Australia and check out the surf (as is her husband Martin). When we were recording this podcast we were in the meeting room of the US Embassy. We had to turn off the air-conditioning in the whole level so our mic's did not pick up the sound of the air-conditioners. So thank-you to the staff at the US Embassy for that 1 hour of discomfort. Throughout the podcast we were getting a lot of looks from staff. I asked Rachel why we were getting so many looks - and she said because not many people get to come into the room. I felt very, very special. It was an honor to speak to you Rachel - you're a true leader, inspiration and I personally took so much out of. Thanks for making time for me after the podcast to talk alone.

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• WASMA Mining and Resources Podcast Episode 23 Rachel Cook US Consul Part 2