Chris Moraitis

Chris Moraitis
PSM
Director General of the Office of the Special Investigator
In office
4 January 2021 – 4 January 2026
Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department
In office
15 September 2014 – 15 September 2021
Attorney-GeneralGeorge Brandis
Christian Porter
Michaelia Cash
Preceded byRoger Wilkins
Succeeded byKatherine Jones
High Commissioner of Australia to Papua New Guinea
In office
December 2006 – February 2010
Preceded byMichael Potts
Succeeded byIan Kemish
Personal details
Born
Christos Moraitis

1962 (age 62–63)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
Australian National University
OccupationPublic servant

Christos "Chris" Moraitis, PSM (born 1962) is a senior Australian public servant, serving as Director-General of the Office of the Special Investigator.

Life and career

Moraitis was born in Melbourne in 1962.[1] He joined the Australian Public Service in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1989 as a Graduate Trainee.[1]

Moriatis was Senior Legal Adviser in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from November 2002 to December 2006, Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea from 2006 to 2009 and, in April 2013, he was appointed a Deputy Secretary at Foreign Affairs and Trade.[2][3][4][5][6] He served less than 18 months in the role before being promoted in September 2014 to head the Attorney-General's Department,[7][8] his first job outside Foreign Affairs and Trade since he commenced his public service career.[7][9] In 2021 he commenced as Director-General of the Office of the Special Investigator, the Special Investigator being Mark Weinberg. The agency was established following the completion of the Brereton Report.[10] While originally coming under the Department of Home Affairs, this agency was moved to the portfolio of the Attorney-General of Australia, its task being the investigation of possible war crimes in Afghanistan by Australian forces.[11][12]

Awards

Moraitis was awarded a Public Service Medal in June 2014 for "outstanding public service to Australia's international affairs as Australia's High Commissioner to Port Moresby and in senior legal and corporate roles at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade".[13]

References

  1. ^ a b Attorney-General's Department, Biographical details—Chris Moraitis PSM, Australian Government, archived from the original on 31 January 2015
  2. ^ Marshall, Steve (23 November 2006). "Moraitis appointed High Commissioner to PNG". Australian Broadcasting Commission. Archived from the original on 31 January 2015.
  3. ^ Hook, Donald (12 January 2010), New high commissioner has PNG background, archived from the original on 31 January 2015
  4. ^ Marshall, Steve (26 November 2006). "Moraitis appointed High Commissioner to PNG". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 31 January 2015.
  5. ^ Downer, Alexander (23 November 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Papua New Guinea". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Mr Chris Moraitis - High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea". Australian Heads of Mission. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b Mannheim, Markus (3 September 2014). "Chris Moraitis joins the top table in Abbott's latest reshuffle of department heads". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.
  8. ^ Abbott, Tony (3 September 2014). "Appointment of Departmental Secretaries" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 January 2015.
  9. ^ "New secretary appointments for Health, Attorney-General's", The Mandarin, Private Media, 3 September 2014, archived from the original on 31 January 2015
  10. ^ Doherty, Ben (14 February 2023). "Investigators of alleged war crimes by Australians in Afghanistan set to hand over first brief of evidence". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  11. ^ Jenkins, Shannon (17 December 2020). "Chris Moraitis departs secretary role to lead Office of the Special Investigator". The Mandarin. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Our people – Office of the Special Investigator". Australian Government. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Search Australian Honours: MORAITIS, Christos (Public Service Medal)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 31 January 2015
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by High Commissioner of Australia to Papua New Guinea
2006–2009 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department
2014–2021 		Succeeded by
Katherine Jones