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Peter Tesch
Former deputy secretary at Department of DefenceAfter graduating from the University of Queensland, Peter joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1987. His roles included: Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2016-2019); head of the International Security Division (2014-2015); Ambassador to Germany (2009-2013); Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations (2002-2005); Ambassador to Kazakhstan (1997-1999); and Third Secretary in the USSR (1989-1991). He served in the Office of the Minister for Trade (1993-1994) and as Deputy Director of the department’s Victorian State Office (1994-1996). He was project director for Australia’s participation in the world expos in Hannover (2000) and Shanghai (2010).
As Deputy Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Industry in the Department of Defence (2019-2022), he was centrally involved in strategy and policy in and beyond the Indo-Pacific region. Following the launch in 2021 of the AUKUS partnership he took the Australian lead for AUKUS Advanced Capabilities (“Pillar Two”), focusing on generating warfighting advantages in areas like hypersonics, underseas warfare, artificial intelligence, and quantum sensing.
Peter is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland and a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for European Studies, Australian National University. He speaks German and Russian.