John Cecil Dauth, AO LVO (born 9 April 1947) is an Australian diplomat. He has been the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom since 2008.
Graduating from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Dauth joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1969 and was seconded to Buckingham Palace between 1977 and 1980, serving in the Press Office of the Royal Household as Assistant Press Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II and Press Secretary to the Prince of Wales.[1]
Dauth has served in a number of positions overseas including: Nigeria (Second Secretary, 1970–72); Tutor in Residence at Burgmann College, Australian National University (1974-75); Iran (Chargé d'affaires, 1983–85); and New Caledonia (Consul-General, 1986–87).
He was previously served as High Commissioner to New Zealand (2006–2008). Prior to this he was Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2001–2006) and High Commissioner to Malaysia (1993–1996).[1]
He was the Consul-General in New Caledonia from 1986-1987 before being declared persona non grata by the French government after Paris complained that he was too close to the Kanak pro-independence movement.[1]
In 2008, the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, appointed Dauth as Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, succeeding Richard Alston.[1]
Appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) on 12 August 1980 by the Queen on the occasion of the Royal Visit of 1980 for "service as Australian press secretary to the Queen".[2]
On 26 January 2011, Dauth was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to international relations through the advancement of Australia's diplomatic, trade and cultural relationships, particularly with the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and through contributions to the United Nations.[3]
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Penelope Wensley |
Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations 2001 – 2006 |
Succeeded by Caroline Millar (acting) |
| Preceded by Allan Hawke |
Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand 2006 – 2008 |
Succeeded by Paul O'Sullivan |
| Preceded by Richard Alston |
Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom 2008 – present |
Incumbent |