Jump to content

Patrick Lawless

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Patrick Lawless
Australian Ambassador to Brazil
In office
12 February 2014 – February 2016
Preceded byBrett Hackett
Succeeded byJohn Richardson
Australian Ambassador to Portugal
In office
2009–2013
Australian Ambassador to Poland
In office
2002–2005
Preceded byMargaret Adamson
Succeeded byIan Forsyth
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales
London School of Economics
OccupationSenior career officer with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
ProfessionDiplomat

Patrick Colin Lawless is an Australian diplomat and senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).[1][2]

Lawless served as the Australian Ambassador to Brazil, from 12 February 2014[3][4] until February 2016.[5] Lawless previously served as Australia's Ambassador to Portugal (2009–2013) and to Poland (2002–2005).[1][2]

Early life and education

[edit]

Lawless can trace his family heritage to the First Fleet landing in Botany Bay in 1788.[6]

Lawless speaks Portuguese and graduated from the University of New South Wales and London School of Economics.[4] Prior to working for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lawless practiced law in Sydney[2] and worked for the Aboriginal Land Commissioner in Darwin.[7]

Career

[edit]

Lawless began his career with the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1985[7] as held a number of positions with the Department throughout his career including three ambassadorships. Lawless worked as the speechwriter for the Foreign Minister and Trade Minister from 1992 and 1993 and then as an adviser in the Trade Minister's office in 1993.[8] By 1998 Lawless began serving in senior Department positions beginning with the Director of the Staffing Operations Section in DFAT's Staffing Branch.[9] His first ambassadorial appointment to Poland was announced by the Minister Alexander Downer on 30 May 2002 replacing Margaret Adamson.[7] Lawless's replacement Ian Forsyth was announced in April 2005 and he completed his post in Poland in June 2005.[10] Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Poland he served as the head of the Trade Development Branch and Trade and Economic Analysis Branch, the Deputy Head of Mission in South Africa and Russia and a diplomatic posting in France[8]

Lawless was announced as the Ambassador to Portugal with non-resident accreditation to Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe on 24 August 2009 by Minister Stephen Smith, he replaced Luke Williams.[11][12][13] He was replaced by Anne Plunkett in May 2012.[12] After 2012 Lawless served as the head of DFAT's Resources, Competitiveness and Trade Analysis Branch.[14][15]

Lawless was appointed the Ambassador to Brazil on 12 February 2014 by Minister Julie Bishop replacing Brett Hackett.[4][14] While Ambassador to Brazil, Lawless, along with Austrade, was involved in organising and facilitating Australian involvement in the Brazilian Association of Water Resources Symposium which allowed for water management experts from Australia to train Brazilian stakeholders.[16] He also met the Socceroos when they landed in Curitiba prior to their third World Cup game.[17]

In January 2016, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced that Lawless would be replaced by John Richardson in February.[5]

References

[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Patrick Lawless.
  1. ^ a b "Bilateral political relations". Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Ambassador to Brazil". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  3. ^ Wagner, Beatriz (16 February 2014). "Patrick Lawless is the new Ambassador of Australia in Brazil". SBS. SBS Audio and Language. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Bishop, Julie (12 February 2014). "Ambassador to Brazil" (Press release). Canberra, Australia: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b Bishop, Julie (14 January 2016). "Ambassador to Brazil" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Interview with Australian Ambassador, Mr. Patrick Lawless". The World of English. 2003. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Poland - Media Releases from the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Portugal". Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee Hansard". Canberra: Parliament of Australia. 10 June 1998. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Poland". Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  11. ^ "About us". Australian Embassy Brazil. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  12. ^ a b Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Portugal". Archived from the original on 31 January 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  13. ^ Dodd, Mark (24 August 2009). "Peter Tesch appointed to fill vacant post of German ambassador". The Australian. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Senior Appointments". Independent News For The Australian Public Service (397 ed.). 18 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  15. ^ "International education support and collaboration (Hansard)" (PDF). Australian Parliament House. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. May 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Bringing Australian water expertise to Brazil". Australian Water Partnership. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  17. ^ Smithies, Tom (29 May 2014). "A helicopter escort and police band greets Socceroos after 22-hour journey to Brazil". The Daily Telegraph. Vitória. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Australian Ambassador to Brazil
2014–2016 		Succeeded by
John Richardson
Preceded by
Luke Williams
 Australian Ambassador to Portugal
2009–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Australian Ambassador to Poland
2002–2005 		Succeeded by
Ian Forsyth
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patrick_Lawless&oldid=1226517124"