Appointment of New Austrade Chief Executive Officer
Media release
22 January 2010
Trade Minister Simon Crean today announced the appointment of Mr Peter Grey as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade).
Mr Grey has extensive experience both in Australia and overseas in prosecuting Australia’s trade and commercial relationships. He is presently the Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Before taking up this appointment, Peter held a range of senior positions within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, being appointed Deputy Secretary in 1994.
“Throughout his career Mr Grey has worked closely with Australia’s business community and he will draw on this experience and network to further develop Austrade’s strategic relationship with Australian exporters and the broader commercial sector” Mr Crean said.
Mr Grey has been at the centre of the development and implementation of Australian trade policy and negotiations since the early nineties with his career almost exclusively at the interface between government and business, both internationally and in Australia. He had oversight of the Office of Trade Negotiations, bilateral political and economic relations with North Asia, the Economic Analytical Unit and the various task forces negotiating free trade agreements with Asian countries. His work at DFAT has also included two major overseas assignments, as Ambassador to Japan (1998–2001) and to the European Union, NATO and Belgium/Luxembourg (2003-2006).
Peter was also Chief Negotiator for the Japan Australia Free Trade Agreement and has represented the Department on the Australia China Council, the Australian Japan Foundation and the Australia Korea Foundation. From 1994 - 1998 he was Australia’s senior APEC official and first Ambassador for APEC and Australia’s lead negotiator on WTO matters (1994 to 1998 and 2001 to 2003), positions held concurrently as Deputy Secretary. Earlier from 1982 to 1985 Mr Grey was Assistant Secretary in the Department of Primary Industry with responsibility for reform of the dairy industry and represented the Department on the Board of the Dairy Corporation.
Austrade is the Government’s trade and investment development agency. It delivers trade and investment advice and assistance to Australian business through an expansive network of overseas and domestic network offices. Austrade also administers the Export Market Development Grant program, which last financial year made over 4,000 grants to help Australian companies reach their export potential.
“Austrade is ranked as a leader amongst the global community of trade and investment development organisations. Mr Grey brings significant experience to this important and challenging role. He joins Austrade at a time of increasing focus on emerging economies such as China and India and greater emphasis export growth sectors including clean energy, financial and professional services” said Mr Crean.
Media inquiries
- Trade Minister's Office: (02) 6277 7420
- Departmental Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555