Biographical
Details - Mr Miles Kupa
Deputy Secretary
Mr Miles Kupa took up his current position as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in October 2008. He is a senior career diplomat with extensive experience.
Most recently, he served as High Commissioner to Singapore (2005-08). He was Ambassador to Thailand (2000-04), his third posting to Thailand, Ambassador to the Philippines from 1996-99 and has also served in Indonesia, as Deputy Head of Mission from 1986-88. He was Ambassador to Iraq from 1983-86. Earlier in his career he also served in Egypt and France.
In Canberra, Mr Kupa has held a range of senior positions in DFAT, including as Deputy Secretary from 1999-2000 and First Assistant Secretary of the South and South-East Asia Division from 1993-95. He was Assistant Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Branch of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 1991, and then head of the Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1991-93.
Along with his overseas assignments, these positions in Canberra have given him considerable expertise on a wide range of foreign policy issues, regional and international security, intelligence matters, trade policy (the Free Trade Agreement with Thailand was secured during his term as Ambassador there) and trade promotion as well as corporate management issues.
Mr Kupa was born in Czechoslovakia in 1946. He is a graduate of the University of Melbourne. He is married to Ms Zulaikha (Zuly) Chudori, who is also a DFAT officer. They have one son, Alexander. Mr Kupa speaks Thai, French and Indonesian.