David Ritchie (diplomat) explained

David Ritchie
Honorific-Suffix:AO
Occupation:Diplomat, public servant
Years Active:since 1975

David James Ritchie (born 20 June 1953) is an Australian diplomat and a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). His last appointment was as Ambassador for Australia to Germany, a post to which he was appointed in 2013.

Early life

Ritchie holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from the University of Queensland in German language and literature, which he obtained in 1975.

Diplomatic career

Ritchie began his diplomatic career with a posting at the Australian embassy in Bonn (West Germany), where he served from 1975 to 1978, and from 1981 to 1983 he was posted to the Australian embassy in East Berlin (East Germany).

Between 1992 and 1997, Ritchie held various positions in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.[1]

From 1999 to 2001, Ritchie was a senior foreign affairs adviser to Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and from 2001 was promoted to Deputy Secretary at DFAT.

In 2002, Ritchie was appointed as chargé d'affaires at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta until a replacement for Ric Smith was appointed. Some saw David Irvine as a good replacement for Smith, given his knowledge of the Indonesian language, but Ritchie was appointed as the Ambassador of Australia to Indonesia by the Australian government to oversee the relationship between the two countries, which is seen as one of the most complex.[2] He served in this position until 2005, including at the time of the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta,[3] and the 2005 Bali bombings. For his work at this time, Ritchie was awarded the Group Bravery Citation on 29 August 2005 and made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on 13 June 2005 for "service to ensuring Australia's long-term security interests in the region through efforts to gain co-operative action to address the threat of terrorism."[4] [5]

On 10 May 2010, Ritchie was appointed as Ambassador of Australia to Italy, with concurrent accreditation to San Marino.[6] [7] He took up the post in mid-July that year, and remained in the position until November 2013.[8]

On 24 October 2013, Ritchie was appointed as Ambassador of Australia to Germany, with concurrent accreditation to Liechtenstein and Switzerland.[9] In July 2016, Ritchie was awarded with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Minister of State in the Foreign Office, Maria Böhmer.[10]

References

Attribution

Notes and References

  1. News: Amanda Vanstone to be replaced as Italy ambassador. 10 May 2010. News Limited. news.com.au. 13 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100513024754/http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/amanda-vanstone-to-be-replaced-as-italy-ambassador/story-e6frfku0-1225864688532. live.
  2. News: Grattan . Michelle . Michelle Grattan . Softly, softly: new man in Indonesia awaits nod . 18 November 2014 . . Fairfax Media . 3 November 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629124311/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/11/02/1036027087096.html . 29 June 2011 . dead. dmy .
  3. News: Jakarta embassy bombing: Threat has faded but memory remains 10 years on. The Age. Fairfax Media. 9 September 2014. Michael. Michael Bachelard. Bachelard. 18 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141218061007/http://www.theage.com.au/world/jakarta-embassy-bombing-threat-has-faded-but-memory-remains-10-years-on-20140908-10e1yf.html.
  4. Web site: RITCHIE, David James - Group Bravery Citation. It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 27 January 2018. 29 August 2005. 27 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180127202425/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/.../honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1059407&search_type=simple&showInd=true. dead.
  5. Web site: RITCHIE, David James - Officer of the Order of Australia. It's an Honour database. Australian Government. 27 January 2018. 13 June 2005. 27 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180127143317/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/.../honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1135890&search_type=simple&showInd=true. dead.
  6. Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Italy. 18 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140818024134/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2010/fa-s100510.html. 10 May 2010. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician).
  7. News: Australia names new Italy ambassador . 18 November 2014 . . 10 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141218190950/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-05-10/australia-names-new-italy-ambassador/429736 . 18 December 2014 . dead. dmy .
  8. News: Mike Rann's new job as Ambassador to Italy will see him living like a Roman emperor in a $32,000 a month taxpayer-funded apartment. 5 April 2014. David. Nankervis. Sunday Mail. Adelaide, South Australia.
  9. Ambassador to Germany . 30 June 2014 . . Julie . Bishop . 24 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181548/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2013/jb_mr_131024.aspx . 14 July 2014 . Julie Bishop . dead. dmy .
  10. News: The Australian Ambassador receives the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. 27 January 2018. German Australian Business Council. 12 July 2016.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "David Ritchie (diplomat)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.