About James Wise
James Wise was Australia’s Ambassador to Thailand from 2010 to 2014. He also lived full-time in Thailand from 1995 to 1998, when he was Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy. He now lives in Thailand. After retiring from the Australian foreign service in 2014, James was an independent director of ANZ Bank (Thai) for five years (2014-19). From 2016 to 2018 he wrote regular assessments of developments in Thailand for TD International, a Washington-based consultancy firm. Since 2016 he has been a director of The Beaumont Foundation which has built a school for underprivileged children in Chaiyaphum province.
James was an Australian diplomat for over thirty years. In addition to two postings to Thailand, he was High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Malaysia from 2003 to 2007. He had earlier postings to the Soviet Union (1987-91) and Papua New Guinea (1983-85).
He held several senior positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including as First Assistant Secretary, Corporate Management Division (2007-10), and First Assistant Secretary, Pacific, Middle East and Africa Division (2001-03). He was also a Senior Analyst at the Office of National Assessments (1991-94).
James Wise holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with First Class Honours in History from the University of Tasmania.