Peter Varghese

Peter Varghese AO
File:Peter Varghese (1).jpg Varghese, pictured in 2009.
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 December 2012 (2012-12-03)
Preceded by	Dennis Richardson
Personal details
Born	Peter Joseph Noozhumurry Varghese 1956 Kenya
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Queensland
Occupation	Diplomat; Public servant

Peter Joseph Noozhumurry Varghese AO (born 1956 in Kenya), an Australian diplomat and public servant, has been the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade since 3 December 2012. He announced in November 2015 that he would leave the position in July 2016 to become the chancellor of the University of Queensland.

Life and career

Varghese was born in Kenya to Nasrani parents from Kerala, India. He emigrated to Australia as a child in 1964. He studied history and graduated from the University of Queensland. with a university medal.

From 2004 to 2009, he was Director-General of the Office of National Assessments, an Australian government intelligence agency which reports directly to the Prime Minister. Prior to this he was the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, then Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Immediately prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Varghese served as Australia's High Commissioner to India, with concurrent accreditation to Bhutan, between August 2009 and October 2012. Varghese has also served overseas in Tokyo (1994), Washington (1986–88) and Vienna (1980–83).

When the Abbott Government took office in September 2013, Varghese had to oversee the integration of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with Australian Agency for International Development. It was announced on 24 November 2015 that he would be stepping down from the position in July 2016 to take on an appointment as chancellor of the University of Queensland.

Honours

In 2010, Varghese was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration, particularly in leading reform in the Australian intelligence community and as an adviser in the areas of foreign policy and international security.

Varghese was conferred with a Doctor of Letters honoris causa by the University of Queensland in July 2013 in recognition of his distinguished service to diplomacy and Australian Public Service.

Personal

Varghese is married and has an adult son.

See also

• Office of National Assessments

References and further reading

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by John McCarthy	Australian High Commissioner to India 2009–2012	Succeeded by Patrick Suckling
Preceded by Bob Cotton	Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia 2000–2003	Succeeded by James Wise
Government offices
Preceded by Kim Jones	Director-General of the Office of National Assessments 2004–2009	Succeeded by Allan Gyngell
Preceded by Dennis Richardson	Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2012 – present	Incumbent