Hon Alexander
Downer

Speaker Profile

Alexander Downer retired from a 24 year political career in politics in 2008. Prior to that he was a highly successful career diplomat.

He was schooled through Geelong Grammar and Radley College in Oxford, has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Politics and Economics and is a Doctor of Civil Laws. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Bar Ilan University.

His early roles included being an Economist to Westpac Bank, an Australian diplomat serving in the Australian Missions to European Union and NATO; and as an Embassy representative in Belgium and Luxembourg.

In 1984, Mr Downer entered politics as the Member for Mayo. He has held several key positions both in Government and Opposition (including Leader of the Opposition) but it was his 11 year role as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Australia Liberal Government where he truly made his mark.

Mr Downer has been at the forefront of Australian Foreign Policy in some very turbulent and also progressive times. He has orchestrated significant reforms to combat the influence of terror; been instrumental in delivering independence in East Timor; has played a pivotal role in Australia's response to the Middle East conflicts; has been an active participant and diplomatic force on global issues of human rights, climate change, natural disasters and has still found time to represent his local constituency on local, state and federal issues.

Post politics Alexander Downer has accepted a professorial role with Adelaide University, is the principal of his own his own business consultancy and serves as the United Nations special envoy to Cyprus.

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