David Taylor Irvine AO (born 1947) is an Australian diplomat, and since March 2009 has been the current Director-General of Security (head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation). Prior to his appointment to ASIO, he was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) from 2003 to 2009.[1]
Irvine was born in Perth, Western Australia[2] and studied at Hale School and The University of Western Australia, graduating with honours in Elizabethan history. He worked as a journalist in Perth, and joined the Department of External Affairs (the Australian foreign service) in 1970, and served as Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (1996–1999)[3] and Australian Ambassador to China (2000–2003).[1]
He has written two books about Indonesia: an 1990 English translation of Bisma: Warrior Priest of the Mahabharata by Satyagraha Hurip,[4] and Leather Gods & Wooden Heroes: Java's Classical Wayang (1996; about Indonesian Wayang shadow puppets).[5]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bill Farmer |
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea 1996–1999 |
Succeeded by Nick Warner |
| Preceded by Richard Smith |
Australian Ambassador to China 2000–2003 |
Succeeded by Alan Thomas |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Allan Taylor |
Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service 2003–2009 |
Succeeded by Nick Warner |
| Preceded by Paul O'Sullivan |
Director-General of Security 2009–present |
Incumbent |