Simon Murdoch

Simon is currently Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a post he has held since September 2002. He has extensive experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which he joined in 1972. He has held positions in the Economic Division and Asian Division and postings to Washington and Canberra (where he served as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia).

In 1980, Simon began the first of two secondments to the Prime Minister's Office, rising to the position of Director, Policy Advisory Group in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed Chief Executive of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, a position he held for seven years.

Simon was the Visiting Professor of Public Policy and Management at Victoria University from 1998 to 1999. He has a First Class Masters Degree in American Studies from Canterbury University.