Mr Stephens is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

He has previously served overseas as Australia’s Ambassador to Sweden, Deputy Head of Mission in Thailand, and earlier in his career at Australia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and in Brazil.

In Canberra, Mr Stephens has held senior roles in DFAT working on Southeast Asia, Europe, Indo-Pacific strategy and corporate management, as well as in International Division at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Mr Stephens holds a Master of Arts (International Relations) from Deakin University; Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University, and a Graduate Diploma of Communications from University of Canberra.