Hon. Bob Carr
Former Australian Foreign Minister
Profile
Former Foreign Minister Bob Carr is also the longest continuously serving Premier in New South Wales history.
Current Work
Following his resignation from the Senate on October 24, 2013, the University of Technology, Sydney appointed him to lead the Australia-China Relations Institute – a think tank dedicated to Australia-China relations, serving for five years. In May 2019 he was appointed Professor of Industry in Climate and Business at the University of Technology Sydney.
Bob Carr is a Director of The Lysicrates Foundation and a Committee Member of the UNSW Matraville Education Program Advisory Council.
Previous Experience
Politics: He served as Minister for Planning and Environment 1984 to 1988 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1988 until his election as Premier in March 1995. He was re-elected in 1999 and 2003 securing an historic third four-year term.
State Government: During his 10 years the State Government set new records for spending on infrastructure, became the first government in the State’s history to retire debt, hosted the world’s best Olympics in 2000 and achieved the nation’s best school literacy levels. Forbes magazine called Bob Carr a “dragon slayer” for his landmark tort law reforms.
Premier: As Premier he received the World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award for creating 350 new national parks. He introduced the world’s first carbon trading scheme and curbed the clearing of native vegetation, both anti-greenhouse measures. He was a member of the International Task Force on Climate Change convened by Tony Blair, and was made a life member of the Wilderness Society in 2003.
Minister: In March 2012 he was designated by Prime Minister Julia Gillard as Australia’s Foreign Minister, elected to the Australian Senate to fill a casual Senate vacancy and sworn in to the Senate and Cabinet on March 13, 2012.
As Foreign Minister, Bob Carr fostered stronger relations between Australia and Southeast Asia, lifted sanctions on Myanmar, campaigned for the passage of a global Arms Trade Treaty and led the final stages of Australia’s successful bid for Australia’s seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. His plan for a Syrian medical pact was backed at the G20. He assisted Prime Minister Gillard in achieving a strategic partnership with China.
Author: He is the author of Thoughtlines, What Australia Means to Me, My Reading Life, Diary of a Foreign Minister and Run for Your Life.
Honours and Accolades: Bob Carr has received the Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award Scholarship. He has served as Honorary Scholar of the Australian American Leadership Dialogue.
Media
Feedback
Carr is a smart speaker, a colourful orator with a carefully trained voice.
Carr is the most consistently effective, engaging and entertaining speaker with whom I have collaborated.
Mr. Carr is an exceptional speaker with an amazing ability of truly capturing the audience. The presentation was scored as one of the best at the conference.
The Hon Bob Carr delivered an informative and thought provoking presentation. Our client ACCA, the event sponsor KPMG and other headline speakers all agreed that he set a high level for the event.
Both the afternoon event and the awards night went really well. Bob was a great speaker and I know our management team found the meeting with him very valuable.
