Alexander Downer, a former Australian Liberal Party politician, is a highly successful career diplomat. In every respect Alexander Downer has served his country with enormous energy, passion, dedication and integrity. For nearly 12 years he strutted the world stage, dining and talking with the most influential politicians in the world.
His early roles of Economist to Westpac Bank and Australian diplomat serving in the Australian Missions to European Union and NATO, and as an Embassy representative in Belgium and Luxembourg, were excellent training grounds for Alexander’s later roles.
Politics called in 1984 and after two senior political advisory roles, Alexander 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 as Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Liberal Government of Australia from 1996 until November 2007 that Alexander truly made his mark.
Alexander Downer has been at the forefront of Australian Foreign Policy in some very turbulent and also progressive times. He has seen the increase in terror around the world and orchestrated significant reforms to combat that influence; he has been instrumental in delivering independence in East Timor; he has played a pivotal role in Australia’s response to the Middle East conflicts; he has been an active participant and diplomatic force on global issues of human rights, climate change, natural disasters and he still found time to represent his local constituency on local, state and federal issues. It was not uncommon that on one day Alexander would be in dialogue with world leaders and his international counter parts, and on the next he would be opening a school fete in his electorate back in Australia.
Alexander Downer has earned respect all around the world as a man committed to making the world a better place and has enhanced Australia’s position in the global fraternity. His energy and passion is unsurpassed. He does not shirk the tough issues yet is driven by compassion when leading the world’s response to events that have catastrophic effects on ordinary people.
Alexander is married to Nicky and they have three daughters and a son. Alexander enjoys tennis and golf, and he is affectionately known as a “rev head”; he has a racing car driver’s licence and is passionate follower of the sport.
His Excellency Alexander Downer
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia (1996-2007)
- Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
- Advisory Board, British Strategic Intelligence
- Visiting Professor of Politics and International Trade, University of Adelaide