Ian Biggs
Encyclopedia
Ian Biggs is a career diplomat and is currently Ambassador
at the Australian Embassy in Ankara
.
degree with double honours from the University of Sydney
and a Master of Arts
(International Relations) from the Australian National University
.
Biggs is currently employed by the Australia
n Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
. His first position with the department was as Third Secretary in Cairo
(1986-88). He was subsequently appointed as Second Secretary in Riyadh
(1988-91), Counsellor in Damascus
and Liaison Officer in Beirut
(1992-94), Deputy Head of Mission in Vienna
(1998-2001), Head of Mission in Riyadh
(2004-2008), Assistant Secretary for Arms Control in Canberra
(2008), Secretary for the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
(2008-2010), and was appointed Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Ankara
in September 2010. Before taking up this position, he was Charges d'Affaires at the Australian Embassy in Baghdad
for three weeks in November 2010.
In Canberra
, Biggs has also held the positions of Desk Officer in the Middle East and Africa Branch (1991-92), Senior Analyst in the Office of National Assessments (1994-96), Executive Director in the Treaties Secretariat (1996-98) and Director in the Executive, Planning and Evaluation Branch (2001-02). Biggs was also seconded as the Special Assistant to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency
at the United Nations
(2002-04).
Biggs is married with two children.
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
at the Australian Embassy in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
.
Life and career
Biggs holds a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor 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...
degree with double honours from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and a Master of Arts
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...
(International Relations) from the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
.
Biggs is currently employed by the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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...
. His first position with the department was as Third Secretary in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
(1986-88). He was subsequently appointed as Second Secretary in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
(1988-91), Counsellor in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
and Liaison Officer in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
(1992-94), Deputy Head of Mission in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(1998-2001), Head of Mission in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
(2004-2008), Assistant Secretary for Arms Control in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
(2008), Secretary for the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament
The International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament is a joint initiative of the Australian and Japanese governments. It was proposed by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 9 June 2008, and on 9 July 2008 Rudd and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda agreed to establish...
(2008-2010), and was appointed Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
in September 2010. Before taking up this position, he was Charges d'Affaires at the Australian Embassy in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
for three weeks in November 2010.
In Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Biggs has also held the positions of Desk Officer in the Middle East and Africa Branch (1991-92), Senior Analyst in the Office of National Assessments (1994-96), Executive Director in the Treaties Secretariat (1996-98) and Director in the Executive, Planning and Evaluation Branch (2001-02). Biggs was also seconded as the Special Assistant to the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(2002-04).
Biggs is married with two children.