Ambassador Paterson has held positions at the most senior levels in the Australian Government with responsibility for counter-terrorism, international strategic and security policy, politico-military affairs, intelligence and regional issues. He has extensive experience in trade and investment implementation and promotion in Asia.
From 2013 to 2016, he was Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK), dually accredited also to North Korea and Mongolia. Mr Paterson was Australia’s representative on the United Nations Command (UNC) for Korea and worked closely with US Forces Korea (USFK), positioning Australia as a key security partner to both the US and ROK.
Prior to that, he served as Australian Ambassador for Counter Terrorism and Head of the International Security Division in Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2008-2013, undertaking frequent missions in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the US and Europe, and working closely with relevant Australian agencies and the federal-state National CT Committee.
Mr Paterson was earlier Australian Ambassador to Thailand (2004-2008), and led Australia’s disaster response to the 2004 Asian tsunami. Before that, he was head of the Southeast Asia Division in Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2003-04.