Sir Zelman Cowen Oration - Dennis Richardson 12/10/11

Sir Zelman Cowen Oration Established in honour of Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO KStJ, our Senior Patron, former Governor- General, and one of Australia’s most distinguished and internationally respected public figures. Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 7pm for 7.30pm The Australian Club, 110 William Street, Melbourne The 2011 Oration will be delivered by Mr Dennis Richardson AO Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Foreign Policy in a Changing World with an appreciation by Mr Tony Walker International Editor of ‘The Australian Financial Review’

No task is more challenging or important for the Australian Government today than developing and conducting foreign policy in a highly volatile and rapidly changing world. Australia, as a middle power in global terms yet a significant player in the Pacific, has a difficult and sensitive task in ensuring that our limited resources are deployed in ways that optimise our national interests. We need to balance our crucial economic, trade and financial relations as well as our essential security interests. Advising and guiding the Government on these great challenges is the task of the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Mr Dennis Richardson AO. Mr Richardson is one of Australia’s most significant public servants. He has had an outstanding career serving successive governments. He was appointed Secretary of DFAT in early 2010 following his return to Australia after four years as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States of America. Prior to that he was for nine years the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Previous positions include Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister; and diplomatic appointments in Jakarta, Port Moresby and Nairobi, among a number of other prominent international roles. Mr Richardson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his services to Australia.