Public lecture: Australia-Japan Relations in the context of Japan's snap elections

Murray McLean is Chair, Australia Japan Foundation (since 2012); a non-resident Fellow at the Lowy Institute (since 2014) and Chairman of his family company, Dunmore McLean Pty Ltd. He was a Vice Chancellor's Professorial Fellow at Monash University (2012 to 2015).

Formerly a senior officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), he retired in 2012 after a 42 year career during which he was Ambassador to Japan (2004-2011) initiating negotiations on the FTA and on growing security cooperation as well as leading Australia's response to the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters; Deputy Secretary of DFAT (2004); First Assistant Secretary, North Asia Division (2001-2003), High Commissioner in Singapore (1997-2001); Assistant Secretary, East Asia Branch, (1992-1996), and Consul General, Shanghai (1987-1992). His other postings were at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. (1983-1986); the Australian Embassy in Beijing (twice) (1973-1976 and 1979-1983) and in Hong Kong (1971-1973). He speaks fluent Chinese.

In DFAT, he was consistently involved in the formulation of Australian policy towards Asia and also served as a special ministerial envoy on North Korean nuclear matters visiting North Korea on several occasions. He was appointed as an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours list 2013 and in November 2014, the Japanese Emperor presented him with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

Mr McLean will also speak about opportunities in the New Colombo Plan (NCP).