Mr Griffin is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He was most recently Assistant Secretary, European Union and Western Europe Branch, a position he held from May 2007. Prior to that, he was Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia Branch and, before that, Mainland South-East Asia and South Asia Branch.

In 1999-2000, Mr Griffin was Assistant Secretary, Staff Development Branch in Corporate Management Division. From 1995 to 1999, Mr Griffin was Director of Conventional and Nuclear Disarmament Section.

Mr Griffin has previously served overseas as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Australian Embassy, Thailand (2001-2005). He has also served at the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York (1991-1995); and in France (1985-1988) and Laos (1983-1984).

Prior to joining the then Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982, Mr Griffin worked in the Australian Public Service Board, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australia Council.

Mr Griffin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with first class honours and university medal from James Cook University. He also attended the French National Administration School (ENA), Paris.


When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?
I arrived on 11 July 2011 as Ambassador-designate of Australia to Hungary

Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?
Yes – in France, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, New York

What surprised you most about Hungary?
What a wonderfully liveable city Budapest is

Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
See the Danube at night from Castle Hill and/or one of the riverside hotels on the Pest side; stroll the length of Andrássy

What is your favourite Hungarian food?
Tojásos nokedli

What is never missing from your refrigerator?
Vegemite

What is your favourite Hungarian word?
köszi, bocsi, szivi (I love the way Hungarians abbreviate words)

What do you miss the most from home?
Australian steak and seafood

What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
Master gardener

What's a job you would definitely never want?
Trying to find a middle ground in Hungarian politics

Where did you spend your last vacation?
Transylvania

Where do you hope to spend your next one?
Lake Fertő

What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
My Fair Lady

Apart of temptation what can't you resist?
A good Bordeaux

Red wine or white?
Notwithstanding the previous reply, white

Book or movie?
Both

Morning person or night person?
Not mornings!

Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Social inclusion for the marginalised

Buda side or Pest side?
Pest

What would you say is your personal motto?
Life is not a dress rehearsal