Mr Chris De Cure

Consul-General in Los Angeles, United States of America

Biography

Mr De Cure, a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has held diverse senior roles in the Department covering bilateral and regional relations, trade policy, public affairs and corporate programs. He has developed a close familiarity with Australia's relations with the United States, having headed the Department's Americas Division in 2008 and previously serving in the Australian Embassy, Washington as First Secretary (Commercial) from 1987-1990.

Mr De Cure was head of the APEC Task Force (2005-07) in the lead-up to Australia's hosting of the APEC Leaders Meeting in 2007 and Assistant Secretary, APEC Branch (2003-05) and chair of APEC's Committee on Trade and Investment (2006-07).

Mr De Cure previously held a range of senior appointments in Canberra including Senior Media Spokesman and Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary Media Branch (2001-02) and Assistant Secretary, Images of Australia Branch (1999-2000). In the latter role, he had oversight of the Department's international public affairs and cultural programs and its involvement in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

He was also the senior Departmental official engaged in the 2008 visit to Perth by the then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Mr De Cure was awarded an OAM for his co-ordinating role in the Government's response to the 2002 Bali bombing.

Mr De Cure holds a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University. He is married and has four adult children.