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Bede Corry

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Bede Corry
Corry in 2022
Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent
Assumed office
2024
Preceded byBrook Barrington (acting)
New Zealand Ambassador to the United States
In office
2022–2024
Preceded byRosemary Banks
Succeeded byRosemary Banks
New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
In office
2020–2022
Preceded bySir Jerry Mateparae
Succeeded byShannon Austin (acting)
Phil Goff
New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand
In office
2010–2012
Preceded byBrook Barrington
Succeeded byTony Lynch
Personal details
Born (1964-02-11) 11 February 1964 (age 60)
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington

Bede Gilbert Corry (born 11 February 1964)[1] is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He took up the position of chief executive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 30 June 2024.

Previously, Corry served as Ambassador for New Zealand to the United States (2022-2024), High Commissioner for New Zealand in the United Kingdom (2020–2022) and New Zealand's ambassador to Thailand (2009–2012).

Early life

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Corry grew up in the Taupō–Rotorua area.[2] He is the eighth of ten children to Marie (née Gordon) and John Corry, who was a lawyer and Hong Kong magistrate.[3][4] Corry studied at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours.[5][6]

Career

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Corry began his public service and diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1989, working in the Europe division. He was posted to the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra from 1992 to 1995. He was private secretary to foreign ministers Don McKinnon and Phil Goff from 1997 to 2000.[5] While working for McKinnon, Corry was a leading figure in the Bougainville peace process and personally escorted representatives from the Bougainville Transitional Government to Christchurch for peace talks in 1997.[7]

Corry was posted to New Zealand's United States embassy in Washington, D.C. as a counsellor from 2000 to 2004. Returning to New Zealand, he was appointed director of the chief executive's office and director of the Ministry's Australian division. In 2009, he succeeded Brook Barrington in the post of Ambassador to Thailand which he held until 2012.[5][8]

Corry succeeded Barrington a second time in the position of deputy secretary for policy and planning at the Ministry of Defence from 2012 to 2014.[9] He then returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as deputy secretary for Australia, Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa until 2015, and deputy chief executive for policy until 2020.[5]

Corry was posted to the London as high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2020 to 2022 and thereafter returned to Washington as New Zealand ambassador to the United States.[10][11]

He was appointed Chief Executive and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade in March 2024 and took up that position on 30 June, succeeding acting chief executive Brook Barrington.[5][12][13] This was Corry's third application for the position, having been unsuccessful in 2015 (to Barrington's first appointment) and in 2018 (to Chris Seed).[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ "Corry, Bede Gilbert, (born 11 Feb. 1964), Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States of America, since 2022". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u294623. Retrieved 29 March 2024. [better source needed]
  2. ^ Bede, Corry [@BedeCorry] (9 January 2023). "It was a very special honour to meet @POTUS in the Oval Office just before Christmas. Having grown up in the Taupō-Rotorua area, it was a privilege to be able to wear a Te Arawa-Tūwharetoa style korowai 🇳🇿🇺🇸" (Tweet). Retrieved 29 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Martin, Kay (2 July 2011). "An astute lawyer and dedicated family man". The Dominion Post. p. A26.
  4. ^ "John Corry Obituary (2011)". Legacy.com. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade appointed". Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Calendar 1988". Victoria University of Wellington. p. 468. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  7. ^ "A risky assignment". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  8. ^ "McCully names new Ambassador to Bangkok" (Press release). New Zealand Government. 19 March 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  9. ^ Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission (14 February 2023). Reappointments of Secretaries and Chief Executives (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  10. ^ "New High Commissioner to the United Kingdom announced" (Press release). New Zealand Government. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  11. ^ "New Ambassador to United States appointed" (Press release). New Zealand Government. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Top appointments made at MFAT and Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet". The Post. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  13. ^ Traylen, Jem (18 January 2024). "Brook Barrington returns as acting chief of foreign affairs". BusinessDesk. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  14. ^ Young, Audrey (15 November 2023). "Audrey Young: Let the musical chairs begin in Foreign Affairs". NZ Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  15. ^ Young, Audrey (28 March 2024). "Audrey Young: Government ropes in old mates for new jobs". NZ Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
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