Qantas Chairman Leigh Clifford today announced the appointment of Michael L’Estrange AO as a non-executive director to the Board of Qantas Airways Limited, with immediate effect.

Welcoming Mr L’Estrange to the Board, Mr Clifford noted the extensive public policy, foreign affairs and international trade experience he will bring to the national carrier.

“Michael has had a distinguished 35 year career as a Department Secretary, a High Commissioner and senior academic. He has been a trusted adviser on international relations and broad policy issues to successive governments.

“Michael adds to the depth of knowledge on the Board at a time when we are carving out a strong, sustainable future for the Qantas Group domestically and internationally,” added Mr Clifford.

In taking up his position as a director, Mr L’Estrange said: “It is an absolute honour to join the Board of our national carrier. The turnaround of Qantas has been extremely impressive and I look forward to working with my Board colleagues and management to build on this success.”

Mr L’Estrange was Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University from 2009 to 2015, and currently remains a Professor at the College. Prior to this, he was the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for almost five years and the Australian High Commissioner to the UK between 2000 and 2005. He served as Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Cabinet Policy Unit from 1996 for more than four years and, prior to that, as Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. He has been a member of the Rio Tinto Board since 2014.

Mr L’Estrange studied at Sydney University and later as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University where he graduated as a Master of Arts with First Class Honours.