Peter Henderson (Australian public servant)

Peter Henderson AC
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs
In office 4 September 1979 – 3 September 1984
Personal details
Born	Peter Graham Faithfull Henderson (1928-10-01)1 October 1928
Died	25 September 2016(2016-09-25) (aged 87) Canberra
Nationality	Australian
Spouse	Heather (née Menzies)
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Occupation	Public servant

Peter Graham Faithfull Henderson, AC (1 October 1928 – 25 September 2016) was an Australian senior public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs between 1979 and 1984. He was also well known for being the son-in-law of Robert Menzies.

Early life and marriage

Henderson was born in October 1928.[1] He was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Victoria, and Merton College, Oxford (1947–1950).[2] In May 1955, Henderson married Heather Menzies, daughter of Robert Menzies, the Australian Prime Minister.[3][1][4] They had their first child, a daughter, in March 1956, in Jakarta.[5]

Career and later life

Henderson began his career in the Australian Public Service in the Department of External Affairs in 1951.[1]

He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1979.[6] During his time at the department he introduced rules to prevent couples being posted together, which was interpreted by those it affected as a "pincer movement" against career equality for female diplomats.[7]

At the end of his public service career in September 1984, Henderson was offered the choice of a demotion or retirement—he chose to retire, and denounced the Australian Government for using the diplomatic service as a "depository... for people they want to get rid of in Canberra".[8]

Henderson died in Canberra on 25 September 2016.[9][10]

Awards

In January 1985, Henderson was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in recognition of distinguished public service.[11]

Notes

1. CP 948: Peter Graham Faithfull HENDERSON AC, KStJ, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 13 March 2020, retrieved 10 February 2014
2. Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900–1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 377.
3. "Keen Interest in Wedding of Miss Heather Menzies". The Canberra Times. 30 May 1955. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
4. "Mr. Peter Henderson Home on Leave". 16 May 1955. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
5. "Daughter For Mrs. Peter Henderson". The Canberra Times. 7 March 1956. p. 4. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
6. CA 1382: Department of Foreign Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 28 December 2013
7. Broinowski, Alison (7 December 2013). "Sexist baggage revealed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013.
8. "Former FA head condemns 'dumping'". The Canberra Times. 31 January 1985. p. 1.
9. "Tributes & Celebrations". Canberra Times. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
10. Towell, Noel (27 September 2016). "Canberra loses its scourge of public service 'yes men'". Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016.
11. Search Australian Honours: HENDERSON, Peter Graham Faithful, Australian Government

References and further reading

• Henderson, Peter (1986), Privilege and Pleasure, Methuen Haynes, ISBN 0454012330
• Henderson, Peter (August 2008), "Chapter 2: Peter Henderson, AC: Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs 1979–84", in Wilson, Trevor; Cooke, Graham (eds.), Steady Hands Needed: Reflections on the role of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia 1979–1999 (PDF), pp. 13–25, ISBN 9781921536137, archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2014

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by James Ingram	Australian Ambassador to the Philippines 1973–1975	Succeeded by Gerry Nutter
Government offices
Preceded by Nick Parkinson	Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs 1979–1984	Succeeded by Stuart Harris