Peter Woolcott is an Australian diplomat. He is the son of Richard Woolcott, one of Australia's most eminent diplomats, now retired.[1] After practicing as a barrister in Sydney for a number of years, Peter Woolcott joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1981. He served in Australian diplomatic missions in Jamaica (1981-83), Argentina(1987-88), the Philippines as Deputy Head of Mission (1994-97), Consul-General in Honolulu[2] and representative to United States Pacific Command (1998-2001), Deputy Head of Mission in Jakarta (2001-2002), Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (2002-04), and Australian Ambassador to Italy (2004-07).[3] He was replaced in Rome by Amanda Vanstone, a political appointee.[4]Wooloctt also sat on the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (2004-07). Between 2007 and 2009 he was first assistant secretary of the South East Asia division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[3] Wooloctt was recently appointed as the People Smuggling envoy.[3] However as of 2010 he has become Australia's ambassador to the United Nations.[5]
Woolcott was a Director for the Sea Law and Ocean Policy Group (1990-91), the Human Rights Section (1992-94) and the India and Indian Ocean Section. Woolcott has also worked as the international adviser to Bond Corporation (1989-90) and as the Executive Manager International Bid Relations, Sydney Olympic Bid 2000 Bid (1991-92).
Woolcott earned his Bachelor of Law[4] and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the Australian National University and a Master of Arts degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
Woolcott is married to Tanya Hollows (the daughter of Fred Hollows) and has three children, Charles, Nicholas and Isabella.