Damien Miller

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Damien Miller
Australian Ambassador to Denmark, Iceland and Norway
TermMay 2013 (2013-05) – April 2017 (2017-04)
PredecessorJames Choi
SuccessorMaryEllen Miller
PartnerNeill Seeto

Damien Patrick Miller

Indigenous Australian to head an Australian diplomatic mission
.

Early life and education

Miller belongs to the

ABC News Breakfast, Miller said that his grandmother was subjected to the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 and she and many family members moved from the outskirts into Rockhampton, or later moved to Brisbane. Miller was brought up in Brisbane and has strong ties to the traditional country of his people.[3]

In 1993, Miller was recognised as Aboriginal Scholar of the Year by the

national NAIDOC committee. He graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. Miller also holds a Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.[4]

Career

Whilst studying for his law degree at the University of New South Wales, Miller worked in a commercial law firm in

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as an Indigenous Cadet and worked part-time at the Department during the summer holidays.[6]

After graduating from the University of New South Wales, in 1999 Miller joined DFAT full-time.[4] As a career diplomat Miller was first posted to the High Commission of Australia to Malaysia, where he served from 2000–2003.[7] Returning to Australia, Miller then served as a desk officer in DFAT's South-East Asia Division from 2003–2006, and then as Director of DFAT Corporate Planning from 2007–2009. In 2009, Miller was then moved to the position of Director in DFAT's Afghanistan Section.[7] In 2010 Miller was appointed as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Australia to Germany, where he served under Peter Tesch.[8][7]

On 1 April 2013

Harald V on 17 October 2013 and to Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson on 7 December 2013.[11][12]

On his Ambassadorial appointment, Miller noted that the Department employs 49 Indigenous staff with 12 of those employees posted at various Australian diplomatic missions around the world,[6] and that it is "great honour not only for me, but for my family and for Indigenous Australians."[4]

Personal life

Miller is in a same-sex relationship with Neill Seeto.[12][5]

References

  1. ^ "Diplomatic List 2014". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). 2014. p. 13. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Damien Miller to be first Aboriginal Ambassador". Koori Mail. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  3. ABC News Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 April 2013. Archived from the original
    on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. ^ a b c "In Profile: Damien Miller (BA LLB 98)". University of New South Wales. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Australiens Ambassadør i Danmark / Australia's Ambassador in Denmark" (PDF). Down Under (in Danish and English). No. 6. Friendship Society of Australia, New Zealand and Denmark. August 2013. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  6. ^ a b Woodley, Naomi (2 April 2013). "Damien Miller to become first Indigenous Head of Mission". The World Today. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  7. ^
    Folketinget. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original
    on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  8. ^
    Foreign Minister of Australia. 1 April 2013. Archived from the original
    on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Indigenous Aussie is ambassador to Denmark". The Advertiser. Australian Associated Press. 1 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  10. ^ "List of Ambassadors presenting their credentials 14 June 2013". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). 24 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Oslo Diplomatic List" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway). 13 May 2014. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  12. ^
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iceland). p. 10. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
James Choi
Australian Ambassador to Denmark

2013 –
Incumbent