Howard John Su
Multilingual postgraduate specialising in international security, policy analysis, and strategic communication. Fluent in English, Mandarin & Cantonese — backed by research on AUKUS, nuclear discourse, and Australia-China relations.
Univ. of Sydney
Who is Howard?
I'm a Master of International Security graduate from the University of Sydney (Distinction, 77), with a Bachelor of Arts from UQ spanning Chinese, Media & Digital Culture, and Study in Religion.
My research examined how Australian mainstream media frames China's nuclear capabilities — analysing 170+ articles across eight thematic categories — and how these narratives shaped public opinion around the AUKUS Agreement during the 2022 Federal Election.
Beyond academia, I bring real-world experience in digital content editing, property management operations, and Chinese language education support. I bridge analytical depth with practical communication — and I do it in three languages.
Howard's postgraduate research sits at the intersection of media studies, public opinion theory, and international security. The dissertation used narrative-discourse analysis across ABC, SBS, and political documents (Labor and Coalition), alongside Facebook and YouTube sentiment data (2019–2025). The research illuminated how elite media narratives shape grassroots attitudes toward AUKUS and nuclear defence posture.
Beyond professional pursuits, Howard studies pop music composition and singing as a hobby, exploring harmonic theory and production. He maintains strong interest in public health equity policy, gender-based violence research, and the intersection of Buddhist philosophy with conflict resolution — drawing on his undergraduate research proposals on Ahimsa and the Russo-Ukraine conflict.
Experience
Skills & Tools
Research
This dissertation used narrative-discourse analysis to examine 170+ news articles from ABC and SBS (2019–2025), alongside Labor and Coalition political documents, Facebook posts, and YouTube sentiment data. It revealed how elite media narratives construct China's nuclear posture as an existential threat — shaping grassroots public support for the AUKUS submarine deal and influencing voting intentions in the 2022 Federal Election.
John W. Parker (nuclear deterrence), Robert Peters (nuclear deterrence & missile defence), Jake Lynch & Johan Galtung (peace journalism), scholars on R2P including its Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire applications, and theorists on media agenda-setting and framing effects.
Contact
I'm actively seeking opportunities in the Australian Public Service, policy analysis, intelligence support, and roles leveraging cross-cultural communication. Whether you're a recruiter, researcher, or collaborator — I'd love to connect.
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