Michael L’estrange Ao
Non-executive director
Civil Engineering
Rio Tinto Limited
Australia
Biography
Michael, an Australian citizen, has had long and distinguished public service experience in Australia and brings to the board valuable, global expertise in foreign policy, international relations and trade. Michael joined the Australian Government’s Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 1981. From 1989 to 1994, he worked in a range of policy advisory positions before he was appointed the inaugural executive director of the Menzies Research Centre in Canberra in 1995. In 1996, he was appointed by the Prime Minister as secretary to cabinet and head of the Cabinet Policy Unit. He served in that role until 2000 when he became Australia’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom. He returned to Australia as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2005 to 2009. In 2007, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Research Interest
Civil Engineering
