Role Diplomat Name Douglas Sturkey | Succeeded by Martin Bonsey Preceded by Sir David Smith | |
Alma mater University of Western AustraliaAustralian National University Books The limits of American power | ||
Robert Douglas (Doug) Sturkey (born 7 September 1935) is a former Australian diplomat and Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, Canberra.
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Early life
Sturkey was born in Greymouth, New Zealand on 7 September 1935 to James Robert and Jessie Grace Sturkey. The family emigrated to Australia in 1936, where Douglas was educated at Wesley College, Perth, and the University of Western Australia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in 1956.
Public service
Douglas Sturkey was a member of the diplomatic staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1957 to 1998, during which time he served at seven Australian missions abroad, and at departmental headquarters in Canberra. Senior appointments held include Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York; Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and other states in the Arabian Peninsula; and, in Canberra, Principal Adviser responsible for policy advice to the government on matters relating to Australia's relations with South East Asia.
In 1990 he was appointed to succeed Sir David Smith as Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia, a position he held until 14 July 1998.
Academia
On his retirement from the Australian Public Service, Sturkey completed a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy within the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, Canberra. His doctoral dissertation was on the Clinton Administration's attempt to effect a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute.
Sturkey took up an appointment as Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 2004. His research interests are listed as including Middle East politics, the Arab-Israeli dispute, and Gulf security.