Craig Chittick is the Acting Deputy Secretary, Development, Multilateral and Europe Group in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Mr Chittick oversees the department’s work on development policy, programming and governance, multilateral policy (including the United Nations and Multilateral Development Banks), human rights, gender equality, humanitarian policy, preparedness and response, NGOs and civil society, global health and education, climate change and Australia’s relationships and interests with Europe.

Prior to assuming his current role, he was Deputy Head of the Office of the Pacific and First Assistant Secretary, Pacific Strategy Division (2024-2026).

Mr Chittick was First Assistant Secretary of the International Division at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2022-2024). He was previously DFAT’s First Assistant Secretary, United States and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division (2020-2022), and First Assistant Secretary, Southeast Asia Mainland and Regional Division (2015-2016).

Mr Chittick has served overseas as Australian Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2016-2019), Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia (2008-2011), and Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Indonesia (2000-2003). He was previously Australian Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues (2012-2014).

Mr Chittick graduated from the University of Sydney in 1992 with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours), and a Master of Arts in international relations from the Australian National University in 1995. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his service in Bali following the 2002 Bali Bombings and the Order of Friendship by the President of Vietnam in 2019 for services to the bilateral relationship.