Alexander Downer

Alexander Downer retired from politics in 2008 after an amazing 24 years and prior to that was a highly successful career diplomat. In every respect Alexander Downer has served his country with enormous energy, passion, dedication and integrity.

He has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Politics and Economics and is a Doctor of Civil Laws (honoris causa). Alexander Downer also holds a Doctor of Philosophy from Bar Ilan University. 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 role as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Politics called in 1984 and after two senior political advisory roles, Alexander 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 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 its 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.
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.
Post politics Alexander Downer has accepted a professorial role with Adelaide University. He has started a consultancy business in South Australia and will write a book in the near future.
He is enjoying speaking to business and community groups on a wide range of topics. Insights as a leadership and political speaker and greatly experienced negotiation business expert make Alexander Downer a real speaking drawcard. His speeches are loaded with anecdotes that provide the listener with an insight into how it works at the top...the tensions, the humour and the characters that make the World go around. Alexander Downer’s years in the media spotlight has shown him to be very quick witted and a man with a wonderfully Australian sense of humour.

Speaker Topics Include:

Future Trends
Inside the 'Corridors of Power'
Leadership
Regional and Global Stability
The Art of International Negotiation