{{Short description|Australian diplomat}} {{Use Australian English|date=June 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Damien Miller | image = Damien Miller (1).jpg | alt = | caption = Damien Miller | birth_name = Damien Patrick Miller | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Birth-date and age|birth date†}} --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|death date†|birth date†}} --> | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Diplomat | known_for = | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|University of New South Wales|Monash University}} | title = Australian Ambassador to Denmark, Iceland and Norway | term = {{start date|2013|05|}}{{spaced endash}}{{end date|2017|04|}} | predecessor = James Choi | successor = MaryEllen Miller | partner = Neill Seeto }} '''Damien Patrick Miller'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Diplomatic List 2014|url=http://um.dk/ftp-upload/copenhagen-diplomatic-list.docx|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|access-date=3 July 2014|page=13|date=2014|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111041112/https://um.dk/ftp-upload/copenhagen-diplomatic-list.docx|url-status=dead}}</ref> is an Australian career diplomat and the first Indigenous Australian to head an Australian diplomatic mission.
== Early life and education == Miller belongs to the Gangulu people from the area of Mount Morgan, near Rockhampton in Central Queensland.<ref>{{cite news|title=Damien Miller to be first Aboriginal Ambassador |url=http://www.koorimail.com.au/miller-appointed-first-aboriginal-ambassador/ |access-date=3 July 2014 |publisher=Koori Mail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134655/http://www.koorimail.com.au/miller-appointed-first-aboriginal-ambassador/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In an interview with ''ABC News Breakfast'', Miller said that his grandmother was subjected to the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 and she and many family members moved from the outskirts into Rockhampton, or later moved to Brisbane. Miller was brought up in Brisbane and has strong ties to the traditional country of his people.<ref name=abcbreakfast>{{cite news|title=First indigenous Australian appointed head of an overseas mission |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-11/first-indigenous-australian-appointed-head-of-an/4623038 |access-date=3 July 2014 |work=ABC News Breakfast |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200243/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-11/first-indigenous-australian-appointed-head-of-an/4623038 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1993, Miller was recognised as Aboriginal Scholar of the Year by the national NAIDOC committee. He graduated from the University of New South Wales in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. Miller also holds a Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University.<ref name="unsw">{{cite news|title=In Profile: Damien Miller (BA LLB 98) |url=http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/news/2013/05/profile-damien-miller-ba-llb-98 |access-date=3 July 2014 |publisher=University of New South Wales |date=7 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714122204/http://www.law.unsw.edu.au/news/2013/05/profile-damien-miller-ba-llb-98 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Career == Whilst studying for his law degree at the University of New South Wales, Miller worked in a commercial law firm in Sydney.<ref name=friendship /> In 1995, he joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as an Indigenous Cadet and worked part-time at the Department during the summer holidays.<ref name=worldtoday>{{cite news|last1=Woodley |first1=Naomi |title=Damien Miller to become first Indigenous Head of Mission |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2013/s3727763.htm |access-date=3 July 2014 |work=The World Today |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715002911/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2013/s3727763.htm |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
After graduating from the University of New South Wales, in 1999 Miller joined DFAT full-time.<ref name=unsw /> As a career diplomat, Miller was first posted to the High Commission of Australia to Malaysia, where he served from 2000–2003.<ref name=folketinget>{{cite news|title=Arctic Shipping Routes & Economic Developments |url=http://www.ft.dk/samling/20131/almdel/eru/bilag/73/1302799/index.htm |access-date=3 July 2014 |publisher=Folketinget |date=25 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714163109/http://www.ft.dk/samling/20131/almdel/eru/bilag/73/1302799/index.htm |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Returning to Australia, Miller then served as a desk officer in DFAT's South-East Asia Division from 2003–2006, and then as Director of DFAT Corporate Planning from 2007–2009. In 2009, Miller was then moved to the position of Director in DFAT's Afghanistan Section.<ref name=folketinget /> In 2010 Miller was appointed as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Australia to Germany, where he served under Peter Tesch.<ref name="bobcarr" /><ref name=folketinget />
On 1 April 2013, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr appointed Miller as the new Ambassador of Australia to Denmark, with concurrent accreditation to Iceland and Norway, replacing James Choi.<ref name="bobcarr">{{cite news|title=Ambassador to Denmark |url=http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2013/bc_mr_130401.html |access-date=29 June 2014 |publisher=Foreign Minister of Australia |date=1 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714141628/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2013/bc_mr_130401.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> With this appointment, Miller became the first Indigenous Australian to become an Australian head of mission.<ref name="adelaidenow">{{cite news|title=Indigenous Aussie is ambassador to Denmark|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/denmark-posting-for-first-indiginous-envoy/story-e6frea7l-1226610389674|access-date=3 July 2014|work=The Advertiser|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=1 April 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527020212/https://www.webcitation.org/6QmSEeMec?url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/denmark-posting-for-first-indiginous-envoy/story-e6frea7l-1226610389674%3Fnk=47989fd478f2ecb3530476048b3151fc|archive-date=27 May 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Miller took up his appointment in May 2013 and presented his credentials to Queen Margrethe II on 14 June 2013.<ref name=friendship /><ref name=adelaidenow /><ref>{{cite web|title=List of Ambassadors presenting their credentials 14 June 2013 |url=http://um.dk/en/about-us/the-protocol-department/news/newslist/newsdisplaypage.aspx?newsID=E0A783AC-8C71-4857-9469-0FF6114C4BF1 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark) |access-date=29 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714190851/http://um.dk/en/about-us/the-protocol-department/news/newslist/newsdisplaypage.aspx?newsID=E0A783AC-8C71-4857-9469-0FF6114C4BF1 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |date=24 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He later presented his credentials to Norwegian King Harald V on 17 October 2013 and to Icelandic President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson on 7 December 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oslo Diplomatic List |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/UD/Vedlegg/Protokoll/ODL130514.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway) |access-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714173833/http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/UD/Vedlegg/Protokoll/ODL130514.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |page=9 |date=13 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="iceland">{{cite web|title=Diplomatic and consular list |url=http://www.mfa.is/media/utn-pdf-skjol/Diplomatic-list---Dec-2013.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iceland) |access-date=3 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224031942/http://www.mfa.is/media/utn-pdf-skjol/Diplomatic-list---Dec-2013.pdf |archive-date=24 February 2014 |location=Reykjavík |page=10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On his Ambassadorial appointment, Miller noted that the Department employs 49 Indigenous staff with 12 of those employees posted at various Australian diplomatic missions around the world,<ref name=worldtoday /> and that it is "great honour not only for me, but for my family and for Indigenous Australians."<ref name=unsw />
== Personal life == Miller is in a same-sex relationship with Neill Seeto.<ref name="iceland" /><ref name=friendship>{{cite news|title=Australiens Ambassadør i Danmark / Australia's Ambassador in Denmark |url=http://venskabsforening-danz.dk/danz/images/DownUnder_aug_2013.pdf |access-date=3 July 2014 |work=Down Under |issue=6 |publisher=Friendship Society of Australia, New Zealand and Denmark |date=August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171626/http://venskabsforening-danz.dk/danz/images/DownUnder_aug_2013.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |page=19 |language=da, en |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} *[https://www.dfat.gov.au/homs/dk.html Profile]
{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=James Choi}} {{s-ttl|title=Australian Ambassador to Denmark|years=2013 – }} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Damien}} Category:Ambassadors of Australia to Denmark Category:Ambassadors of Australia to Iceland Category:Ambassadors of Australia to Norway Category:Gay diplomats Category:Indigenous Australian people Category:Australian gay men Category:Living people Category:Monash University alumni Category:People from Brisbane Category:University of New South Wales alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century Australian LGBTQ people