Peter Woolcott

After practising as a barrister in Sydney for a number of years Peter Woolcott joined the Department of Foreign Affairs of Australia in 1981. He served in Australian diplomatic missions in Jamaica (1981-83), Argentina(1987-88), the Philippines as Deputy Head of Mission (1994-97), Consul-General in Honolulu and representative to United States Pacific Command (1998-2001), Deputy Head of Mission in Jakarta (2001-2002), Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (2002-2004), and Australian Ambassador to Italy (2004-2007). Wooloctt also sat on the Executive Board of the World Food Programme (2004-2007).

Woolcott was a Director for the Sea Law and Ocean Policy Group (1990-91), the Human Rights Section (1992-94) and the India and Indian Ocean Section. Woolcott is currently the First Assistant Seccretary for South East Asia in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Woolcott has also worked as the internaional adviser to Bond Corporation (1989-1990) and as the Executive Manager International Bid Relations, Sydney Olympic Bid 2000 Bid (1991-1992).

Woolcott earned his Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the Australian National University and a Master of Arts degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts/Harvard).

Woolcott is married to Tanya Hollows (the daughter of Fred Hollows) and has three children, Charles, Harry and Isabella.