Allan Taylor (diplomat)

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

Allan Taylor
AM
9th Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service
In office
1 March 1998 – 28 February 2003
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byRex Stevenson
Succeeded byDavid Irvine
Personal details
Born(1941-08-23)23 August 1941
Wynyard, Tasmania
Died19 July 2007(2007-07-19) (aged 65)
NationalityAustralian
SpouseCarol
Alma materUniversity of Tasmania
University of Oxford
OccupationDiplomat

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 the University of Oxford, where he received a Master of Arts 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] Taylor was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for his "service to international relations".[3]

Australian Secret Intelligence Service

Taylor was Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service from 1998 to 2003.[4]

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 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 20 June 2007.
  3. "His Excellency Allan Robert TAYLOR". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. Farmer, Bill: Death of Ambassador Allan Taylor, AM, Australian Embassy to Indonesia, 21 June 2007.
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