David Irvine (diplomat)
Australian diplomat (1947–2022)
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David Taylor Irvine, AO (10 January 1947 – 30 March 2022) was an Australian diplomat who, from March 2009 to September 2014, was the Director-General of Security, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Prior to his appointment to ASIO, he was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) from 2003 to 2009.[1] In 2017 he was appointed Chair of the Foreign Investment Review Board.[2]
Julia Gillard
Tony Abbott
Kevin Rudd
David Irvine | |
|---|---|
| |
| 12th Director-General of Security | |
| In office 30 March 2009 – 14 September 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard Tony Abbott |
| Preceded by | Paul O'Sullivan |
| Succeeded by | Duncan Lewis |
| 10th Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service | |
| In office 1 March 2003 – 27 March 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard Kevin Rudd |
| Preceded by | Allan Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Nick Warner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 January 1947 Perth, Western Australia |
| Died | 30 March 2022 (aged 75) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| University of Western Australia | |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Education and career
Irvine was born in Perth, Western Australia,[3] 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 serving as a diplomat in Rome (1970–1973) later in Jakarta (1976–1980). Other diplomatic appointments included postings as a Counsellor (later Minister) in Beijing (1982–1986) and Minister in Jakarta (1988–1990).[4] In 1996 to 1999 Irvine served as Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea,[5] and was Australian Ambassador to China from 2000 to 2003.[1]
Irvine wrote two books about Indonesia: a 1990 English translation of Bisma: Warrior Priest of the Mahabharata by Satyagraha Hurip,[6] and Leather Gods & Wooden Heroes: Java's Classical Wayang (1996; about Indonesian Wayang shadow puppets).[7]
Irvine died in Canberra on 30 March 2022 after a period of illness and a stroke, aged 75.[8]
Honours
Irvine was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2005.[9]