On 18 July the Lowy Institute hosted a conversation with Dr Michael Fullilove and Dennis Richardson AO, who until his recent retirement was one of Australia’s most experienced and respected public servants.

On 12 May 2017, Dennis Richardson retired as the Secretary of the Department of Defence, ending a storied public service career that began in 1969. In that time, he served as the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as Australian Ambassador to the United States and as Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. He was also Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister from 1990 to 1991.