Philip Green (diplomat)
Philip Green | |
|---|---|
| High Commissioner of Australia to India | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Barry O'Farrell |
| Ambassador of Australia to Germany | |
| In office 20 October 2020 – 20 June 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Lynette Wood |
| Succeeded by | Natasha Smith |
| High Commissioner of Australia to Singapore | |
| In office 25 August 2012 – December 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Doug Chester |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Gosper |
| High Commissioner of Australia to South Africa | |
| In office 10 June 2004 – 25 November 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Wilcock |
| Succeeded by | Ann Harrap |
| Ambassador of Australia to Ethiopia | |
| In office January 1998 – January 2001 | |
| Preceded by | John Trotter |
| Succeeded by | Paul Comfort |
| High Commissioner of Australia to Kenya | |
| In office January 1998 – December 2000 | |
| Preceded by | John Trotter |
| Succeeded by | Paul Comfort |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Philip Victor Green |
| Spouse | Susan Marks |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney (B.A., LLB) |
Philip Green is an Australian diplomat who is currently the High Commissioner of Australia to India. He concurrently serves as the non-resident Ambassador to Bhutan.[1][2]
Early life and education
He holds a bachelor's in arts and a bachelor's in law from the University of Sydney.[3]
Career
In 2002, he was awarded the OAM for his role in the response to the 2002 Bali Bombings.[3]
He served as the Australian high commissioner in South Africa (2004-2008).[4] While High Commissioner to South Africa, he concurrently served as non-resident High Commissioner to Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia. He served as Australia's High Commissioner to Kenya from 1998 to 2000, and concurrently Ambassador to Ethiopia and non-resident High Commissioner to Uganda, Tanzania and Eritrea.
In 2004 he led the Secretariat for the Review of Australian Intelligence Agencies.[5]
Subsequently, he was appointed International Advisor to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and was later appointed the Chief of Staff when Rudd was foreign minister.[6][4]
He was appointed the Australian Ambassador to Germany in 2020 and later High Commissioner to India in 2023.[7] From 2020 until 2022, Green also served as Australia's chief diplomat in both Liechtenstein and Switzerland.[8]
Green presented his credentials as Australia's High Commissioner to India to India's President Murmu on 21 August 2023.[9] On 6 June 2024 he presented his credentials to The King of Bhutan.[10]
Green's selection as High Commissioner to India was seen as a departure from previous appointees. He arrived in India with less experience or connections to the country than his four immediate predecessors: Barry O'Farrell had served as the Deputy Chair of the Australia-India Council Board (2015-19) and as Premier of New South Wales, established sister-state agreements between NSW and Gujarat and Maharashtra; Harinder Sidhu had personal and cultural ties with India; Patrick Suckling had served in New Delhi as a junior diplomat; and Peter Varghese had personal and cultural ties.[11] Green's appointment following O'Farrell was the first time since 1997 that Australia had selected consecutive white male High Commissioners to India.
In a keynote address to outline his vision as Australia's High Commissioner to India in December 2023, Green defined the Australia-India relationship as driven by "necessity, opportunity, and affinity". He said his priority was to "get more things done", with his priorities being maritime domain awareness, two-way trade and investment (including a full Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement), and a focused green energy and critical minerals partnership.[12]
However, between November 2023 and June 2025 no Australian Cabinet Minister visited India and no major outcomes were announced.[13] This was a lull following the tenure of Green's predecessor, The Hon Barry O'Farrell AO (2020-2023), during which Australia-India signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, secured a free trade agreement, and initiated Annual Summits and biennial Foreign and Defence Minister 2+2 Meetings. O'Farrell's tenure also saw regular Cabinet-level visits between India and Australia.[14]
In a further departure from his predecessors, Green spoke often about "differences" between Australia and India, including on governance, institutions, and society, and India's alleged actions in United States and Canada.[15]
Personal life
He is married to Susan Marks, who is a professor at the London School of Economics.[6] This is Green's second marriage.
Awards
- OAM
- Honorary degrees from James Cook University and Murdoch University
References
- ^ PTI (2023-06-16). "Philip Green to be Australia's new envoy to India". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Sharma, Umang. "Who is Philip Green, Australia's new envoy to India". firstpost.com. FirstPost. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b "New Australian High Commissioner presents credentials to President of Singapore". Australian High Commission, Singapore. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ a b Flitton, Daniel (2012-08-24). "Don't mention Rudd: envoy's past job ignored". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian High Commission in". india.embassy.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ a b "About Us - Australia's High Commissioner to India". Australian High Commission, New Delhi. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Appointment of Australian Ambassador, High Commissioner and Consuls-General". Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Australian Government. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Australia accredits Philip Green in Germany". Diplomat Magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ "Philip Green officially takes charge as High Commissioner of Australia after presenting credentials to Indian President | The Australia Today". 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ "Press Release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade". www.mfa.gov.bt. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian High Commission in". india.embassy.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-07-06.
- ^ Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian High Commission in". india.highcommission.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Jansens, Michaela (2025-06-04). "Five Years Is a Long Time in Australia-India Relations, But There is Still More To Do - Australia India Institute". Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "India Bilateral Brief".
- ^ Trade, corporateName= Department of Foreign Affairs and. "Australian High Commission in". india.highcommission.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-06-30.