Allan Taylor (diplomat)

Allan Taylor
AM
9th Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
In office
1 March 1998  28 February 2003
Prime Minister John Howard
Preceded by Rex Stevenson
Succeeded by David Irvine
Personal details
Born Allan Robert Taylor
23 August 1941
Wynyard, Tasmania, Australia
Died 19 July 2007 (aged 65)
Nationality Australian
Spouse(s) Carol
Alma mater University of Tasmania
University of Oxford
Occupation Diplomat

Allan Robert Taylor AM (23 August 1941 – 19 June 2007) was an Australian diplomat, who is best known for his service as Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2003.

Early life and education

Taylor was born in Wynyard, Tasmania and spent his childhood in various Tasmanian towns before boarding at Launceston Church Grammar School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of Tasmania. He then studied as Tasmania's 1963 Rhodes scholar at Oxford, where he received an MA in History in 1965. His studies led to an interest in diplomacy, and in 1966 he joined the Department of External Affairs, Australia's foreign service.[1]

Diplomatic career

Taylor's early postings were to Pakistan and Thailand. After a posting in Canberra, he was sent to Jakarta to serve as political counsellor for the Australian Embassy. His first posting as head of a consular station was as High Commissioner to Nigeria from 1983 to 1985. From 1989 to 1993, he was High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea. In 1994 he returned to Jakarta as Australian Ambassador to Indonesia.[2]

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Taylor was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2003.[3]

References

  1. Smith, Ric (13 July 2007). "Discreet, calm and wise: the markings of a perfect intelligence". The Australian. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  2. Downer, Alexander: Allan Taylor AM, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 20 June 2007.
  3. Farmer, Bill: Death of Ambassador Allan Taylor, AM, Australian Embassy to Indonesia, 21 June 2007.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
H.C. Mott
Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria
1983–1985
Succeeded by
R.H. Wyndham
Preceded by
Lance Joseph
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea
1989–1993
Succeeded by
Bill Farmer
Preceded by
Philip Flood
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia
1993–1996
Succeeded by
John McCarthy
Government offices
Preceded by
Rex Stevenson
Director-General of the
Australian Secret Intelligence Service

1998–2003
Succeeded by
David Irvine