Curriculum Vitae:  Brett Farmer

Full Name:  Brett Ronald FarmerPhone number:   +61 400122041Email:  brett.farmer63@gmail.com

ProfileA results-focussed executive who has worked extensively for the Australian Government in the diplomatic, consular, security, intelligence and corporate management fields across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.  A history of effective leadership and team management, combined with high level communication and strategic management skills.   A network of strong personal relationships which productively contributes to addressing critical business issues. Well-developed understanding of advancing commercial and government interests and a record of securing outcomes within cross-cultural and government contexts.ObjectiveSeeking a management position requiring strong leadership and advanced strategic thinking, planning, coordination, negotiation and communication skills in the corporate security and/or intelligence fields.  

Main Claims

Proven ability to independently manage a discrete operational cell with appropriate staff supervision and output coordination, ensuring achievement of objectives.

Extensive history of dealing effectively with senior political and commercial figures, as well as with the media.

Willing acceptance of responsibility, with demonstrated capacity to perform with reliability, while reflecting high standards of ethics and personal behaviour.

Well-honed understanding of risk in both government and commercial contexts, and in the development and implementation of appropriate responses.

Commitment to operational efficiency, including staff improvement by nurturing staff members’ personal development.

Major employment factors Extensive experience in security

management, contingency and emergency response planning within fraught security environments, including detailed interaction with public sector entities.  

History of facilitating commercial and diplomatic outcomes in foreign environments.

Experienced at effectively establishing and developing teams, as demonstrated by management of the opening of Australia’s Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Adept at identifying commercial opportunities and addressing related risks.  

A leader who motivates teams through developing rapport and articulating objectives, along with clearly communicating individual staff responsibilities.  

Adept at staff development including management of under-performers and nurturing individuals and teams.

Possesses high energy levels and enjoys working in challenging environments.

Project management experience across a range of assignments.

Career Summary The Australian Consul-General to:

o Bali, Indonesia December 2010 to February 2014;

o New Delhi, India 2007 to 2010o Hanoi, Vietnam 2002 to 2005  

Extensive experience with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in other high level diplomatic positions across Asia and the Middle East.  

Key Responsibilities

Australian Consul General, Bali 2010 to 2014 Focus on security issues including staff and

dependants’ welfare, emergency response and contingency planning and ensuring appropriate security and support arrangements for the numerous high level

visits by Australian political leaders, including repeated visits by Australian Prime Ministers.

Close liaison with Australian, western and Indonesian security, police and intelligence agencies against a background of past terrorist attacks including the deadly Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005.  

Project managing support for numerous Australia’s participation in high profile events taking place in Bali including APEC 2012 and the tenth anniversary commemoration of the 2002 Bali bombings.

Provision of consular support services to the large number of Australians in Bali and Lombok, requiring extensive contingency planning within an uncertain security environment and at times contentious legal circumstances.

Providing leadership to a large cross-cultural team at the Bali Consulate General, involving coordination of security, policing, counter-terrorism and asylum seeker activities, and liaison with other Australian government agencies with interests in Bali and Nusa Tenggara Barat.  

Drafting of the Australian Government’s travel advice and subsequent revisions to take account of developing security circumstances in Bali.

Skills included negotiation with local authorities, high level Government representations (eg on death penalty cases involving Australian prisoners in Bali),

advocacy of Australian Government policies and a thorough understanding of the local operational architecture.  

Developed an extensive network of critical contacts, and maintained a broad sphere of professional relationships to facilitate management of sensitive and high profile diplomatic, consular and security matters.

Oversight of internal office processes such as budget, IT systems, resource allocation, client service delivery and human resource management.

Counsellor and Consul General, Australian High Commission New Delhi 2007 to 2010

Control of a $10 million budget for an office of over 200 locally-employed and 40 Australian staff, with responsibility for delivery of human resource, financial management, property, consular, security and IT support services.  

Well-developed understanding of India’s bureaucratic operating environment and finesse in operating within diverse cultural norms.

On the ground corporate and security planning support to Australia’s participation at the Commonwealth Games 2010, including close and extensive liaison with Australian and Indian police, intelligence and security authorities.

Director, Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra 2005 to 2007

Delivery of conditions of employment and payroll services to overseas and domestic staff.  

Represented management in negotiations with staff and unions during development of employment condition agreements.  

Coordination of approaches across government agencies to conditions of service for Australia’s official overseas representatives.  

High level contribution to Australian Government security responses to emergencies such as the Lebanon crisis, rioting in NukuA'lofa, and security planning in East Timor.

Lengthy foreign service career including diplomatic postings to Bali, New Delhi, Hanoi (2002 to 2005), Abu Dhabi (1999 to 2002), Dhaka (1995 to 1997), Colombo (1991 to 1993), Manila (1989 to 1991), Bangkok (1984 to 1986), Dar es Salaam (1981 to 1983) and Jakarta (1977 to 1979).   Primary and secondary schooling in Australia, South Africa, Egypt and India also contributed to my being comfortable within differing cultures and societal structures.More recent education:Advanced Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade Studies, 1999, Deakin University Australia