Chris Seed
Chris Seed | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Seed in 2024 | |
| Acting New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Goff |
| Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
| In office 1 February 2019 – 1 February 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Brook Barrington |
| Succeeded by | Bede Corry |
| 18th New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia | |
| In office 21 November 2013 – 7 December 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Martyn Dunne |
| Succeeded by | Annette King |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Massey University |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Christopher John Seed CNZM is a New Zealand diplomat and former senior public servant who is currently serving as Acting High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom.
He was the Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2019 to 2024. Previously he was High Commissioner of New Zealand to Australia from 2013 to 2018.
Early life and education
[edit]Seed was born and raised in Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay, attending Central Hawke's Bay College from 1974 to 1978.[1] From Massey University, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (1983) and a Master of Arts in history (1984).[1][2]
Career
[edit]Seed joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1985 and had early career postings to Tehran, Canberra, London, and Papua New Guinea.[2]
Seed was deputy secretary in charge of policy and planning at the Ministry of Defence from 2004 to 2008 and also had a one-year secondment to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
He returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a deputy secretary in 2008. During a five-year period he held responsibility for Australia, the Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.[2] In 2013 he was appointed to be New Zealand's High Commissioner to Australia.[3] He concluded that appointment in 2018 and the next year was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[2] His tenure included managing international aspects of New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and extracting 1700 New Zealanders from Afghanistan following the international withdrawal from that country in 2021.[4]
Seed retired in 2024, however he was recalled in March 2025 to serve as Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom following Phil Goff being removed from the role for making comments about United States President Donald Trump at a Chatham House event in London.[5]
Honours and awards
[edit]In the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours Seed was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the State.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Pride for ex-pupils in college's hall of honour". NZ Herald. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d State Services Commission (19 December 2018). "Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade appointed". www.ssc.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- ^ "New High Commissioner to Australia picked". Radio New Zealand. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ Hunt, Tom (3 June 2024). "New Zealand's former top diplomat gets King's nod". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
- ^ "Senior diplomat to take over as Acting UK High Commissioner after Goff sacking". Radio New Zealand. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ^ "King's Birthday Honours 2024: The full list of all recipients". The New Zealand Herald. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Chris Seed at Wikimedia Commons