Richard Woolcott AC is an author and former diplomat. He was made a Fellow of the AIIA at the time of the program’s inception in 2008. As part of his position as Fellow, Dick regularly contributes to the “Burning Question” of Australian Outlook.

Dick Woolcott has held positions as Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia and The Philippines, as well as High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ghana and Singapore. Dick was the Australian Ambassador to the United Nations from 1982 to 1988, and served as the President of the United Nations Security Council for Australia’s term in November 1985. Dick has also served as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) from 1988 to 1992.

For his services to diplomacy and international relations, Dick was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1985, and appointed a Companion of the Order in 1993.