Peter Varghese

Peter Varghese AO
Varghese, pictured in 2009.
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office 3 December 2012 (2012-12-03) – 20 July 2016 (2016-07-20)
Preceded by	Dennis Richardson
Succeeded by	Frances Adamson
Personal details
Born	Peter Joseph Noozhumurry Varghese 1956 (age 60–61) Kenya
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Queensland
Occupation	Diplomat; Public servant

Peter Joseph Noozhumurry Varghese, AO (born 1956) was an Australian diplomat and public servant. He was the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 3 December 2012 to 22 July 2016. He announced in November 2015 that he would leave the position in July 2016 to become the chancellor of the University of Queensland.

Varghese was born in Kenya to Nasrani parents from Kerala, India. He emigrated to Australia as a child in 1964, first moving to Newcastle and two years later heading to Brisbane. He studied history and graduated from the University of Queensland with a university medal.

Varghese's first diplomatic posting was at the Australian Embassy in Vienna from 1980 to 1983. His second overseas posting was at the Embassy of Australia, Washington, D.C. from 1986 to 1988. From 1989 to 1990, Varghese was a speechwriter to Foreign Minister Gareth Evans. Varghese's first Senior Executive Service appointment within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was as the Assistant Secretary of the Staffing Branch from 1991 to 1992. In 1994 he was posted to the Australian Embassy in Tokyo in 1994. He was then the First Assistant Secretary of the Public Affairs Division from 1994 to 1996. As Head of the White Paper Secretariat from 1996 to 1997, Varghese led the drafting of Australia’s first white paper on foreign and trade policy. He was appointed the First Assistant Secretary of the International Security Division in 1997 and then seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as First Assistant Secretary of the International Division from 1998 to 1999.