Damien Miller
Damien Miller
Born
Damien Patrick Miller
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater
OccupationDiplomat
TitleAustralian Ambassador to Denmark, Iceland and Norway
TermMay 2013 (2013-05) – April 2017 (2017-04)
PredecessorJames Choi
SuccessorMaryEllen Miller
PartnerNeill Seeto

Damien Patrick Miller[1] is an Australian career diplomat and the first Indigenous Australian to head an Australian diplomatic mission.

Early life and education

Miller belongs to the Gangulu people from the area of Mount Morgan, near Rockhampton in Central Queensland.[2] In an interview with 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 Sydney.[5] In 1995, he joined the 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 Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr appointed Miller as the new Ambassador of Australia to Denmark, with concurrent accreditation to Iceland and Norway, replacing James Choi.[8] With this appointment, Miller became the first Indigenous Australian to become an Australian head of mission.[9] Miller took up his appointment in May 2013 and presented his credentials to Queen Margrethe II on 14 June 2013.[5][9][10] He later presented his credentials to Norwegian King 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. ↑ "First indigenous Australian appointed head of an overseas mission". ABC News Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "Arctic Shipping Routes & Economic Developments". Folketinget. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Ambassador to Denmark". Foreign Minister of Australia. 1 April 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  9. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Diplomatic and consular list" (PDF). Reykjavík: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iceland). p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
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