Dennis Richardson

Dennis Richardson's career joined diplomacy, intelligence, and the management of major government departments. He served as Bob Hawke's chief of staff and led the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation from 1996 to 2005 before moving to Washington. ^{1, 2}

Richardson was ambassador from 2005 to 2010. In later reflections, he stressed that alliance declarations required continual practical work: personal rapport could help, but national interests, trade, investment, and the management of disagreements gave the relationship its substance. ²

He returned to Canberra as secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2010 to 2012 and then secretary of Defence from 2012 to 2017. ²