Australia

Central Western Time Zone UTC+08:45

Capital City Canberra

Currency Australian dollar

National Day 26 January

His Excellency

The Hon Alexander Downer

Australia High Commission

Strand

London WC2B 4LA

T: 020 7379 4334

F: 020 7240 5333

www.uk.embassy.gov.au

Biography:

The Hon Alexander Downer, AC

The Hon Alexander Downer AC was appointed Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in March 2014.

Mr Downer has had a long and distinguished political career in Australia, and was until recently the United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus.

He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1976 and served at the Australian Embassy in Belgium before moving into politics.Elected to the Federal Parliament in 1984 (Liberal member for Mayo in South Australia), he held this seat until his retirement from Parliament in July 2008. He served as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, from 1996 to 2007, making him Australia’s longest-serving Foreign Minister.

Mr Downer was a Director, Bespoke Approach consultancy and visiting professor, School of History/Politics, University of Adelaide; held a professorship at Carnegie Mellon University and sits on a number of boards.

Mr Downer was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2013 and was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.

Mr Downer holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics and Economics from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne in the United Kingdom and a Doctorate of Civil Laws (honoris causa).