Bede Corry Explained

Bede Corry
Office:Chief Executive and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Predecessor:Brook Barrington (acting)
Term Start:2024
Term End:-->
Office2:New Zealand Ambassador to the United States
Predecessor2:Rosemary Banks
Term Start2:2022
Office3:New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
Predecessor3:Sir Jerry Mateparae
Successor3:Shannon Austin (acting)
Phil Goff
Term Start3:2020
Term End3:2022
Office4:New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand
Predecessor4:Brook Barrington
Successor4:Tony Lynch
Term Start4:2010
Term End4:2012
Birth Date:11 February 1964
Alma Mater:Victoria University of Wellington

Bede Gilbert Corry (born 11 February 1964)[1] is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He took up the position of chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 30 June 2024.

Previously, Corry served as Ambassador for New Zealand to the United States (2022-2024), High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom (2020–2022) and New Zealand's ambassador to Thailand (2009–2012).

Early life

Corry grew up in the TaupōRotorua area.[2] He is the eighth of ten children to Marie (née Gordon) and John Corry, who was a lawyer and Hong Kong magistrate.[3] [4] Corry studied at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours.[5]

Career

Corry began his public service and diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989, working in the Europe division. He was posted to the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra from 1992 to 1995. He was private secretary to foreign ministers Don McKinnon and Phil Goff from 1997 to 2000.[6] While working for McKinnon, Corry was a leading figure in the Bougainville peace process and personally escorted representatives from the Bougainville Transitional Government to Christchurch for peace talks in 1997.[7]

Corry was posted to New Zealand's United States embassy in Washington, D.C. as a counsellor from 2000 to 2004. Returning to New Zealand, he was appointed director of the chief executive's office and director of the Ministry's Australian division. In 2009, he succeeded Brook Barrington in the post of Ambassador to Thailand which he held until 2012.[8]

Corry succeeded Barrington a second time in the position of deputy secretary for policy and planning at the Ministry of Defence from 2012 to 2014.[9] He then returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as deputy secretary for Australia, Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa until 2015, and deputy chief executive for policy until 2020.

Corry was posted to the London as high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2020 to 2022 and thereafter returned to Washington as New Zealand ambassador to the United States.[10] [11]

He was appointed Chief Executive and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade in March 2024 and took up that position on 30 June, succeeding acting chief executive Brook Barrington.[12] [13] This was Corry's third application for the position, having been unsuccessful in 2015 (to Barrington's first appointment) and in 2018 (to Chris Seed).[14] [15]

References

  1. Web site: Corry, Bede Gilbert, (born 11 Feb. 1964), Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States of America, since 2022 . 2024-03-29 . WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO . en . 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u294623.
  2. 1612488568462577671 . BedeCorry . It was a very special honour to meet @POTUS in the Oval Office just before Christmas. Having grown up in the Taupō-Rotorua area, it was a privilege to be able to wear a Te Arawa-Tūwharetoa style korowai . Corry . Bede . 9 January 2023 . 29 March 2024.
  3. News: Martin . Kay . 2 July 2011 . An astute lawyer and dedicated family man . . A26.
  4. Web site: 14 June 2011 . John Corry Obituary (2011) . 29 March 2024 . Legacy.com.
  5. Web site: Calendar 1988 . 29 March 2024 . Victoria University of Wellington . 468.
  6. Web site: 26 March 2024 . Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade appointed . 29 March 2024 . Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission.
  7. Web site: A risky assignment . 29 March 2024 . New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  8. McCully names new Ambassador to Bangkok . 19 March 2009 . 29 March 2024 . New Zealand Government.
  9. Reappointments of Secretaries and Chief Executives . Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission . 14 February 2023 . 29 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240329140510/https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/assets/DirectoryFile/Reappointment-of-Secretaries-and-Chief-Executives.pdf . 29 March 2024.
  10. New High Commissioner to the United Kingdom announced . New Zealand Government . 7 November 2019 . 29 March 2024.
  11. New Ambassador to United States appointed . New Zealand Government . 6 July 2022 . 29 March 2024.
  12. News: 25 March 2024 . Top appointments made at MFAT and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 29 March 2024 . The Post.
  13. Web site: Traylen . Jem . 18 January 2024 . Brook Barrington returns as acting chief of foreign affairs . 29 March 2024 . BusinessDesk.
  14. Web site: Young . Audrey . 15 November 2023 . Audrey Young: Let the musical chairs begin in Foreign Affairs . 29 March 2024 . NZ Herald.
  15. Web site: Young . Audrey . 28 March 2024 . Audrey Young: Government ropes in old mates for new jobs . 29 March 2024 . NZ Herald.