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Graham Fortune

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Graham Fortune
CNZM
New Zealand Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva
In office
1987–1990
Preceded byRichard Nottage
Succeeded byTim Hannah
New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia
In office
1994–1999
Preceded byTed Woodfield
Succeeded bySimon Murdoch
New Zealand Secretary of Defence
In office
1999–2006
Preceded byGerald Hensley
Succeeded byJohn McKinnon
Personal details
Born
Graham Charles Fortune

13 December 1941
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died19 March 2016(2016-03-19) (aged 74)
Auckland, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Otago

Graham Charles Fortune CNZM (13 December 1941 – 19 March 2016) was a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He served as New Zealand's High Commissioner to Australia from 1994 to 1999, and Secretary of Defence from 1999 until 2006.

Early life and family

Fortune was born on 13 December 1941,[1] the son of Winifred Jessie Fortune (née Hutchison) and her husband, Charles Henry Fortune, a journalist who died when he was at school.[2][3] Educated at King's High School, Dunedin from 1955 to 1959,[4] he went on to study chemistry and geology at the University of Otago, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1962 and a Master of Science in 1963.[5] His thesis, supervised by Geoff Malcolm, was entitled Measurement of thermal pressure coefficients of polyethylene and polypropylene.[5]

Career

After leaving university, Fortune worked as a journalist for four years on the Dunedin Evening Star. In April 1964 he joined the Department of External Affairs. Initially he was in the South Pacific and Antarctic Affairs Division, and involved with administration of New Zealand's science and exploration programme in the Ross Dependency and the development of Scott Base. He then had a number of overseas postings, including to the Cook Islands in 1965, five years in Ottawa, and three years in Papua New Guinea. After a secondment to the State Services Commission from 1977 to 1980, he was a senior administrator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for six years before being appointed the deputy secretary of Foreign Affairs.[5] From 1987 to 1990 he served as New Zealand's permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, and he was High Commissioner to Australia from 1994 to 1999.

Fortune was as Secretary of Defence from 1999 until his retirement in 2006. He subsequently served as a board member of Antarctica New Zealand and undertook various consultancy roles for the New Zealand government in the areas of policy and management.[5]

In the 2007 New Year Honours, Fortune was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for public services.[6]

Orienteering

Outside of his career as a public servant, Fortune was active in orienteering, and won several Australian and New Zealand championships.[7] He served as vice president of the New Zealand Orienteering Federation from 2007 to 2008, and was a member of the steering committee for the 2013 Orienteering World Cup.[8]

Death

Fortune died suddenly in Auckland on 19 March 2016.[2]

References

  1. ^ "StatNav: New Zealand's unofficial orienteering rankings". December 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Graham Fortune death notice". The Press. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Top diplomat and public servant left his mark". Dominion Post. Wellington. 20 April 2016. p. C7.
  4. ^ "Pupils 1946–1955". KHS Old Boys Association. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "News from alumni: Graham Fortune" (PDF). Otago Chemistry Alumni Magazine (4). Department of Chemistry, University of Otago: 31. 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  6. ^ "New Year honours list 2007". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Vale Graham Fortune". Orienteering ACT. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  8. ^ "In memory of Graham Fortune". OrienteeringNZ. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
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