The Hon Brendan Nelson AO BMBS FRACP (Hon) FMA FRSN
Dr Brendan Nelson was recently appointed head of Boeing’s Oceania operations. His seven years as Director of the Australian War Memorial commenced on 17 December 2012, and concluded up on 31 December 2019. Prior to his role as Director, he was the Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO (2010–12).
Born in Coburg, Victoria, in 1958, Dr Nelson studied at Flinders University, South Australia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery. He has worked as a medical practitioner in Hobart and was the National President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
In 1995 Dr Nelson retired as president of the AMA and he was elected to the Federal Parliament of Australia in 1996. Dr Nelson was the Minister for Defence to Cabinet in the senior portfolio of Minister for Education, Science and Training. In 2006 he was appointed Minister for Defence. In November 2007 Dr Nelson was elected leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, serving as Leader of the Opposition until September 2008.
Dr Nelson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 2016 for his services to the community, the Parliament of Australia, diplomacy and cultural leadership.