In a small room in an exclusive Manhattan hotel, an eagerly sought meeting is finally taking place.
The Chairman's Office inside New York's Palace Hotel has hosted business titans and political powerhouses.
Its walls are lined with books. Its wood panels date back to the 1880s. Atop a mantlepiece, its clock permanently sits at 4:00.
On this occasion, the occupants are the then-United States president's daughter, Ivanka Trump, and Australia's foreign minister, Julie Bishop.
"She's charming, delightful, a very intelligent and committed young woman," Ms Bishop said soon after.
It was presented as a chance encounter on the sidelines of the 2017 United Nations General Assembly.
In reality, its manufacture began months before that sunny September day in New York.
Using freedom of information laws, the ABC has obtained a series of documents that reveal an outline of the diplomatic chase that led to that rendezvous.
LoadingBut four years after that meeting — and with Donald Trump no longer in office — Australia's Foreign Affairs Department (DFAT) continues to fight against the public knowing more.
Ivanka Trump joins the White House, creating an opportunity
It's late March 2017 and Ivanka Trump is officially joining the administration as an adviser to her dad.
This is a family-friendly White House — Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, is already there as a senior adviser.
The story hits The New York Times website early Thursday morning Canberra time.
Foreign affairs bureaucrats inside their sprawling Canberra headquarters are soon taking note.
Taking a much keener interest, 500 metres away atop Capital Hill, is the office of foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop.
As minister, Ms Bishop has pioneered a previously unheard-of concept in international relations: 'fashion diplomacy'.
"We will promote our stylists, our designers, our manufacturers, our photographers, our magazines, indeed our raw materials — our cotton and leather and wool, precious stones and pearls and gems," she said launching the policy.
"Already we've held fashion events in our posts in New York, London, Paris, Islamabad, New Delhi and Jakarta."
LoadingNow, in the inner sanctum of the United States government was a fashion label owner, 35-year-old Ivanka Trump.
The first daughter's brand was targeted at young women, with its handbags, shoes and dresses sold throughout the United States.
Her brand, also called Ivanka Trump, has its flagship store inside Trump Tower, where she's also worked for the family empire.
Locking down a meeting proves difficult
Within about a month, wheels are in motion. Draft plans for an event involving the pair have been written up.
In early May, a senior adviser in Ms Bishop's office emails the Australian embassy in Washington.
"Hi Paul, wanted to make sure you were fully aware that we have had further contact from Ms Trump's office [this morning]," the email read.
Paul Griffiths heads the embassy's political branch. He is a long-term, senior diplomat, having served in Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea.
Things look promising. A meeting is arranged involving the minister's office, diplomats in Canberra and in Washington.
It's scheduled for 8:30am Canberra time the next day. That's 6:30pm Washington time.
Mr Griffiths is invited, as is the boss of the Americas division, Julie Heckscher. These are senior people. Securing this meeting is a priority.
There's a trip planned for July, where the foreign minister will meet Caribbean prime ministers before flying north to the US. Adding an Ivanka Trump encounter would be ideal.
But hopes are soon dashed. The Ivanka encounter has been ruled out.
"We are focusing on other possibilities," Peter Heyward writes from the Washington embassy.
In his 60s, Tasmanian Peter Heyward has been an ambassador and high commissioner across three continents before landing in the US.
He sends an alternative proposal: a Miami café that serves Australian-style breakfast. He sends a link to a local news article, which raves about the venue's "unique dishes", such as smashed avocado on toast — "unlike any other breakfast dish you've ever tasted".
The July trip passes uneventfully. The café gets its visit. Julie Bishop flies back to Australia.
LoadingWithin days, Ms Heckscher returns to Operation Ivanka.
The goal now is a meeting that coincides with the minister's US trip in September, which will be centred around United Nations leaders' week.
"I assume the FM [foreign minister] will want to see whether a meeting with Ivanka Trump is possible," Ms Heckscher writes.
"It may be challenging to try to have a bilateral program interspersing with UNGA [United Nations General Assembly] activities given those will be very busy and possibly changing frequently."
Then, on the eve of the UN trip, the approach to Ivanka's team is made by Australia's second-in-command in Washington, Caroline Millar. (Ambassador Joe Hockey is apparently uninvested in Ivanka; his name does not appear in the dispatches.)
Ms Millar's subject line is to the point: "Australian Foreign Minister: request for meeting with Ms Trump during UNGA."
"I am writing to see if Ms Trump will be in New York during UNGA Leaders' Week and available to meet with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (bio below)," she writes.
"She is the most senior woman in the Australian Government. She has also played a strong role in the Coalition to defeat [Islamic State].
"I regret the short notice but would welcome your early advice on whether a meeting next week would be possible."
The response from Ivanka's office is positive. The last-minute invite works.
New York is the first choice, but a back-up location is enlisted.
"If for any reason the timing doesn't work, we can always try for DC," Ms Millar writes to colleagues.
Finally, success. A chase that has spanned five months is over. And with a week to spare.
The good news bounces from executive to executive within DFAT.
The result is summarised in a two-word email from one executive to Ms Heckscher.
"Ivanka: Happening."
Minister's office keen to photograph meeting
The meeting is pencilled into the minister's schedule as a 30-minute one-on-one.
The department's public affairs man at the United Nations sends a draft media plan the day before.
The encounter is listed as: "Bilateral meeting with Senior Advisor to the President of the United States."
Official photos are to be made available, on request. The minister's office wants more.
There's some discussion about how many people can attend.
"If it's only one person, I'd prefer [name redacted] go and get some good photos," the minister's press secretary replies.
"I think quality pics would take priority over video."
In the room where it happens
The pair meet, smile for that camera, and then tweet about their meeting.
Ms Bishop tells the Aussie journalists in town about it.
"Yesterday I attended a number of events in relation to the campaign to end forced labour, human trafficking and modern slavery, and I met Ivanka Trump at that meeting," she says.
"Ivanka Trump is also very keen to work with us on promoting female entrepreneurship, and I hope that we will be able to undertake a number of initiatives with her in that regard.
"I am very pleased to get to know her."
Looking back, Ms Bishop says the meeting was worthwhile.
"Ms Trump was regarded as an influential member of the administration," she told the ABC last week.
"A meeting was seen as an important opportunity to obtain valuable insights into the thinking of the president.
"I was able to establish contact with an adviser close to the president and we agreed to share information on policy matters relevant to female empowerment."
Ms Bishop says the diplomatic effort that led up to the brief exchange was nothing but routine.
"DFAT planning for the annual UN Leaders' week began months in advance every year as I typically held more than 60 meetings," she said.
"The meeting with Ms Trump was part of the overall planning for that program, which always entailed complex logistical and scheduling challenges."
The ABC last week asked DFAT what outcomes the meeting achieved.
"The Australian Government has not entered into partnerships with Ivanka Trump or her foundation," a spokeswoman said.
DFAT rejects public disclosure of details
It's April 2018 back at DFAT's RG Casey building, down the hill from Parliament House.
A freedom of information officer clicks send on an email to this journalist. Some emails and documents about the Ivanka meeting will be released. Other details will be kept secret.
The decision maker, executive Greg Wilcock, warns that making public anything more could damage Australia's international relations, including those with strong ally the United States.
Mr Wilcock warned releasing further information risked unleashing a "substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the operations of this department".
It could impede Australia's "ability to facilitate bilateral meetings with senior government officials in future", he added.
This reporter appeals that decision.
Two-and-a-half years later, earlier this month, the appeal reaches the top of a lofty pile inside the office of Australia's Information Commissioner — the nation's overworked freedom of information watchdog.
The department has given no indication it will change its stance.
The commissioner will soon consider the appeal.
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