The Hon Kevin Rudd MP

Recent Speaker

Minister For Foreign Affairs

June 1, 2011

11.30am - 1.30pm

"Australia's United Nations Security Council bid: Why it matters"

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In association with the Foreign Correspondent's Association Australia and South Pacific, we are delighted to present Foregin Minister the Hon Kevin Rudd MP.  Steven Marshall of NZTV, President of the FCA, will co-chair the event.

In 2013-14, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will make significant decisions that affect Australia’s key interests, its security and the safety of its troops abroad. Australia has the credentials, capability and responsibility to make a contribution on the UNSC and help shape global responses to the great challenges the world faces. The Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd will address the National Press Club on 1 June 2011 to explain why Australia's bid for a UNSC seat in 2013-14 is firmly in the national interest.

Kevin Rudd was sworn in as Minister for Foreign Affairs on 14 September 2010.

Mr Rudd was born in the country town of Nambour in Queensland in 1957, the son of a share farmer and a nurse. He was educated at the Eumundi Primary School, Marist College Ashgrove and Nambour State High School, where he was Dux of the school.

He gained his Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) degree with First Class Honours in 1981 from the Australian National University. He was then appointed to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs as a cadet diplomat. He served in the Australian embassies in Stockholm and Beijing.

In 1988 Mr Rudd returned to Queensland to work as Chief of Staff to the Hon Wayne Goss, the Queensland Opposition Leader. Mr Goss was elected Premier the following year. From 1991 to 1995 Mr Rudd served as Director-General of the Queensland Cabinet Office.

From 1996 to 1998 Mr Rudd worked in business, primarily as the Senior China Consultant for KPMG Australia.

In the 1998 Federal Election Mr Rudd successfully contested the House of Representatives seat of Griffith to which he has been re-elected in subsequent elections. Following the 2001 election, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, later adding responsibilities for International Security in 2003 and Trade in 2005.

In 2006 Mr Rudd was elected Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition and, with the ALP’s victory at the November 2007 Federal Election, he went on to serve as Australia's 26th Prime Minister until June 2010.

Mr Rudd is one of the 19 members of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability.