Hugh Alexander Dunn

Hugh Alexander Dunn, born in Rockhampton, Queensland on 20 August, 1923, died in Brisbane on 5 November, 2005, was a career Australian diplomat known for his knowledge of China; namely Taiwan (1969–1972) and of the People's Republic of China (1980–1984).

After completing school at Brisbane Boys' College, he enlisted in the A.I.F., trained in Signals Intelligence and moved with MacArthur's troops through New Guinea and then to the Philippines where the Japanese surrender took place. Returning to Australia after the War, he studied at the University of Queensland. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where he studied classical Chinese language, history and philosophy.

In a public service career of over 30 years, Hugh Alexander Dunn served in Japan, South Korea, the United States, India and South Vietnam, and was Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Uganda, and Seychelles, and Ambassador too Ethiopia (1978-1980); Ambassador to Taiwan (1969-1972); Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru (1973-1976), and Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (1980-1984).

After retiring from public service in 1985, Hugh Alexander Dunn served as Chairman of the Brisbane China Committee, in this capacity actively furthering Australia's relationship with China. He was also a Visiting Professor in the School of Modern Asian Studies at Griffith University and Adjunct Professor in the Department of History at the University of Queensland. He wrote extensively on Sino-Australian relations and the teaching of the Chinese language.

Editor of 'Australians in Asia' series. No. 1 - The Shaping of a Sinlogue of Sorts

Biography: 'Inventory: Items from a Life well travelled' CD (eBook) 2005. 166pp (incomplete.) Published Brisbane, Australia