The Honourable Alexander Downer AC – ‘Is the Commonwealth of Nations fit for purpose?’

Alexander Downer is a member of a very distinguished South Australian family. His grandfather was a senator in the Australian parliament and his father served as a cabinet minister in the Menzies Government and was later Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Alexander was educated at Geelong Grammar and Radley College. Shortly after graduating from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as a diplomat in Australian embassies in Belgium and Luxembourg. In 1984 Alexander was elected to the seat of Mayo in the House of Representatives. Alexander rose through the Liberal Party ranks to become leader in 1994, but resigned this position in 1995 and was replaced by John Howard.   On the election of the Howard Government in 1996, Alexander was named Minister for Foreign Affairs and he remained in that position until 2007, becoming Australia’s longest serving foreign minister.   After resigning from parliament, Alexander was appointed UN Special Adviser to Cyprus, before serving (like his father) as Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK. Alexander is currently the inaugural Executive Chair of the newly established International School of Government at King’s College, London.