Nicholas Peter Warner, AO, PSM (born 22 May 1950) is an Australian diplomat, intelligence official, public servant, and the Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence since 20 December 2018.[2][3]

Nick Warner
Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
In office
17 August 2009 – 18 December 2017
Preceded byDavid Irvine
Succeeded byPaul Symon
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office
4 December 2006 – 14 August 2009
Preceded byRic Smith
Succeeded byIan Watt
Personal details
Born
Nicholas Peter Warner

(1950-05-22) 22 May 1950 (age 73)
Singapore
NationalityAustralian
ParentDenis Warner[1]
Alma materAustralian National University (BA, MA)
OccupationPublic servant, diplomat

Warner served as the director-general of the Office of National Assessments from December 2017 to December 2018, the director-general Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) from August 2009 to December 2017, and the secretary of the Australian Department of Defence from December 2006 to August 2009.[4] He is best known and highly respected for his role in "RAMSI" as the Special Coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.

Education edit

Born in Singapore, Warner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in history and Asian studies and a Master of Arts degree in history from the Australian National University (ANU).

Career edit

 
Nick Warner greeting Solomon Islands women while serving as Special Coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands

Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO):

  • (1973–77) Worked in the JIO

Office of National Assessments (ONA):

  • (1979–88), Deputy head, Current Intelligence Branch and National Assessments Officer for Africa
  • (1980) Australian Liaison Office, Salisbury, Rhodesia

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT):

  • (1988–89) Director, South Asia, Africa, Middle East Trade Section
  • (1989–90) Head, Australian Liaison Office, Namibia during the Australian contribution to UNTAG
  • (1990–91) Director, Central and Southern Africa Section
  • (1991–93) Deputy head of mission, Australian Permanent Mission to the Supreme National Council, Cambodia
  • (1994–97) Australian ambassador to Iran
  • (1997–98) Assistant secretary, Parliamentary and Media Branch and Senior Spokesman
  • (1997–98) Acting first assistant secretary, Public Affairs and Consular Division
  • (1998–99) First assistant secretary, South and South East Asia Division
  • (1999–2003) High commissioner, Papua New Guinea[5]
  • (2003) First assistant secretary, South Pacific, Africa and Middle East Division
  • (2003–2004) Special coordinator of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
  • (2004–2005) Deputy secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Prime Minister's Office (PMO):

Australian Department of Defence:

  • (4 December 2006 – August 2009) Secretary of Defence

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT):

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C):

Honours edit

Warner was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2006 for outstanding public service as High Commissioner to Port Moresby, Special Coordinator for the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands and leader of the Emergency Response Team which dealt with the kidnapping in Baghdad of Mr Douglas Wood.[7] On 13 June 2011, he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public sector leadership through the development of policy, administration and reform in the areas of intelligence, defence and international relations.[8]

References and notes edit

  1. ^ Peake, Ross (13 July 2012). "Journalist Denis Warner dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Maintaining a Strong and Secure Australia" Archived 24 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Prime Minister of Australia press release, 1 December 2017
  3. ^ "Malcolm Turnbull names spy chief Nick Warner to lead new security agency" The Canberra Times, 1 December 2017
  4. ^ CDF thanks Nick Warner, Defence Media release MSPA 264/09, 13 August 2009. defence.gov.au
  5. ^ Downer, Alexander (19 May 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  6. ^ ASIS director general – Position Bio. asis.gov.au
  7. ^ "Nick Warner PSM". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Nick Warner AO". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 13 June 2011.

External links edit

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Ambassador of Australia to Iran
1994–1997
Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner of Australia to Papua New Guinea
1999–2003
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Defence
2006–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
2009–2017
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director-General of the Office of National Assessments
2017–present
Incumbent