Benedict is a senior official with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He currently holds the position of Minister Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Washington D.C. where he is responsible for representing Australia’s interests in Pacific Affairs and International Development. He is also Australia’s representative at the World Bank’s International Development Association.
He brings over 25 years of practical experience in strategy, geostrategic risk, policy, financing, planning, risk assessment, investment design and program management in a range of complex settings (e.g. Papua New Guinea, China, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, Kosovo). This includes extensive experience of multilateral and bilateral development financing and operations with the World Bank, Asia Development Bank, European Commission, United Nations, and UK and Australian Governments.
He has held a number of senior Australian Government positions including as a Senior Adviser to Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Head of the Australia’s $4 billion infrastructure fund for the Pacific and Timor Leste; and Minister Counsellor at Australia’s High Commission in Papua New Guinea. He has previously held senior positions in the UK Government and in the private sector.
He has expertise in international development financing and operations, global health security and geostrategic risk assessment.
He holds post graduate degrees from the London School of Economics; University College London; the University of Bristol; and an Honours degree in politics from the University of Adelaide.