Meet and Hear from Ambassador Kim Beazley & John Berry

Mr Beazley took up his appointment as Ambassador to the United States of America in February 2010.

Mr Beazley was a Minister in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments (1983- 96) holding, at various times, the portfolios of Defence, Finance, Transport and Communications, Employment Education and Training, Aviation, and Special Minister of State. He was Deputy Prime Minister (1995-96) and Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition (1996-01 and 2005-06). Mr Beazley served on parliamentary committees, including the Joint Intelligence Committee and the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.

Ambassador John Berry will also attend.

John Berry presented his credentials to Governor General Quentin Bryce on September 25, 2013, becoming the 25th U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia.

Ambassador Berry’s distinguished public service career spans more than thirty years. Prior to his nomination, he served as the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management – the federal government’s “chief people person,” -- where he directed a workforce of nearly two million -– from April 2009 to April 2013. Hiring of veterans and people with disabilities reached record highs under his leadership. In this role, Mr. Berry was the highest ranking openly LGBT executive in U.S. history.