Ian Kemish

Mr Kemish is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to his current appointment he was First Assistant Secretary, International Division in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Other positions he has held include First Assistant Secretary, South and South-East Asia Division (2004), First Assistant Secretary, Public Diplomacy, Consular and Passports Division (2002-04), Assistant Secretary, Consular Branch (2000-02), Director, Corporate Planning Section (1999-2000), Director, ASEAN, Regional Issues and Burma Section (1998-99), Executive Officer, United Nations Political and Commonwealth Section (1994-95) and Executive Officer, Philippines, Thailand and Burma Section (1992-94).

Mr Kemish has served overseas as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission , Australian Embassy, Vienna (1995-98), and Third Secretary (later First Secretary), Australian High Commission, Bandar Seri Begawan (1990-92). In 1989 he worked on secondment to the New Zealand Ministry of External Relations as Desk Officer, PNG/Vanuatu/Solomon Islands.

Mr Kemish holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of Queensland and a Diploma of Education. He is married and has two daughters. He speaks Indonesian and German. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his role in managing the Government’s consular response to the Bali bombings of October 2002.