Allan Taylor (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Allan Robert Taylor AM
(23 August 1941 – 19 June 2007) was an Australian diplomat, who was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
from 1998 to 2003.
and spent his childhood in various Tasmanian towns before boarding at Launceston Church Grammar School
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
majoring in modern history from the University of Tasmania
, then studied at Oxford
as Tasmania's 1963 Rhodes scholar
where he received an MA
in history in 1965. His studies led to an interest in diplomacy, and he joined the Department of External Affairs
, Australia's foreign service, in 1966.
from 1998 to 2003.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(23 August 1941 – 19 June 2007) was an Australian diplomat, who was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
The Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service is the executive officer of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service , Australia's foreign intelligence agency....
from 1998 to 2003.
Early life and education
Taylor was born in Wynyard, TasmaniaWynyard, Tasmania
Wynyard is a rural town on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It lies west of Burnie on the Bass Highway at the mouth of the Inglis River....
and spent his childhood in various Tasmanian towns before boarding at Launceston Church Grammar School
Launceston Church Grammar School
Launceston Church Grammar School is a co-educational private school in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia for years kindergarten through to Year 12....
. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
majoring in modern history from the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, then studied at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
as Tasmania's 1963 Rhodes scholar
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
where he received an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in history in 1965. His studies led to an interest in diplomacy, and he joined the Department of External Affairs
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
, Australia's foreign service, in 1966.
Diplomatic career
Taylor's early postings were to Pakistan and Thailand, and after a posting in Canberra, he was sent to serve as political counsellor for the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. 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, and in 1994 he returned to Jakarta where he was appointed as Australian Ambassador to Indonesia.Australian Secret Intelligence Service
Taylor was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence ServiceDirector-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
The Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service is the executive officer of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service , Australia's foreign intelligence agency....
from 1998 to 2003.