Ambassador John Griffin

Mr Griffin’s appointment as Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, with concurrent, non-resident accreditation to Bulgaria and Romania, was announced by the Foreign Minister, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 3 June 2014.

Mr Griffin is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He was most recently Assistant Secretary, Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe Branch, a position he held from September 2013. Prior to that, he was Australia’s Ambassador to Hungary, with non-resident accreditation to Romania, 2011 – 2013.

From 2007 to 2010, Mr Griffin was Assistant Secretary, European Union and Western Europe Branch, and before that Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia Branch (2006 -2007), and Mainland South-East Asia and South Asia Branch (2005 – 2006).

In 1999-2000, Mr Griffin was Assistant Secretary, Staff Development Branch in Corporate Management Division. From 1995 to 1999, he was Director of Conventional and Nuclear Disarmament Section.

Mr Griffin earlier served overseas as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Australian Embassy, Thailand (2001-2005). He has also served at the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York (1991-1995); and in France (1985-1988) and Laos (1983-1984).

Prior to joining the then Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982, Mr Griffin worked in the Australian Public Service Board, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australia Council.

Mr Griffin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with First Class Honours and University Medal from James Cook University. He also attended the French National Administration School (ENA), Paris.