Young Strategic Leaders' Forum
SYDNEY seminar

National Security in the 21st century – an address by the Director General of Security

David Irvine

Director General
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

The events of 9/11 and its aftermath significantly changed the focus of ASIO. This lecture is a rare opportunity to hear what the Director General of Security has to say on national security in the 21st century.

Mr Irvine was appointed Director-General of Security, in charge of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in March 2009.

Mr Irvine is a career diplomat who joined the Australian Foreign Service in 1970; postings included Rome, Jakarta (twice), Beijing and Port Moresby; High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea (1996-1999);
Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Mongolia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (2000-2003) and Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (2003-2009).

During the five years prior to his appointment in Papua New Guinea, Mr Irvine held several senior management and policy positions in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra, including management of Australia’s relations with the major markets of South, North and East Asia, as well as Indochina.