Crispin Conroy

Early life

Conroy has a Bachelor of Arts in French language and civilization (Hons) from the Australian National University. He has a Bachelor of Law (Hons) from the same university, which he received in 1988.

Early diplomatic career

From 1990 to 1993, Conroy was Third and Second Secretary at the Australian embassy in Madrid, Spain. He returned to Canberra from 1994 to 1995, continuing work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was named First Secretary at the Australian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva between 1995 and 1998 and was Deputy Legal Adviser and Director of the International Law Section afterwards until 1999.

Australian Ambassador to Nepal

Conroy was the Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Nepal from December 1999 to December 2002. During this period, King Birendra and several family members were assassinated leading to a period of riots, which Conroy advised the Australian Broadcasting Corporation of the situation, which was unclear at the time. During his period of being the ambassador, Conroy reportedly proposed marriage to Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, who came from a well-connected Nepalese political family. After leaving Kathmandu in 2002, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Australian Ambassador to Chile

Conroy was Ambassador to Chile between 2005 and 2009, stationed in Santiago de Chile. As ambassador, he helped secure funding for children's sport and leisure facilities in the poor region of Renca, in cooperation with World Vision. Conroy acknowledged that usually funding of projects by Australia is not the norm.

He is now married and has three daughters.