Douglas Sturkey

Dr Robert Douglas (Doug) Sturkey CVO, AM (born 7 September 1935) is a former Australian diplomat and Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia and is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, Canberra.

Public service

Douglas Sturkey was a member of the diplomatic staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1957 to 1998, during which time he served at seven Australian missions abroad, and at departmental headquarters in Canberra. Senior appointments held include Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York; Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and other states in the Arabian Peninsula; and, in Canberra, Principal Adviser responsible for policy advice to the government on matters relating to Australia's relations with South East Asia.

In 1990 he was appointed to succeed Sir David Smith as Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia, a position he held until 14 July 1998.

Academia

On his retirement from the Australian Public Service, Sturkey completed a Master of Arts (MA) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) within the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, Canberra.

His doctoral dissertation was on the Clinton Administration's attempt to effect a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute.

Dr Sturkey took up an appointment as Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 2004. His research interests are listed as including Middle East politics, the Arab-Israeli dispute, and Gulf security.

Honours

• In the New Year's Day Honours List of January 1995, Dr Sturkey was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) for his services as the Official Secretary to the Governor-General.^[1]

• In the Queen's Birthday Honours List of June 1999. Dr Sturkey was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services as the Official Secretary to the Governor General, to the Australian diplomatic Service, and to the Canberra community.^[2]

• Dr Sturkey is also a Knight within the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem and is currently a Priory Officer of the Order in Australia, being the Order's Director of Ceremonies.

Further reading

• Sturkey, Douglas. The Limits of American Power: Prosecuting a Middle East Peace (2007), Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-847202-43-8

Government offices
Preceded by Sir David Smith	Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia 1990–1998	Succeeded by Martin Bonsey

References

1. ^ It's an Honour: CVO
2. ^ It's an Honour: AM

Sources

• Australian National University
• Government House Annual Report 1997/98

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Name	Sturkey, Douglas
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Date of birth	7 September 1935
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