The Honourable Peter McGauran is Australia’s Consul-General
and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Houston,
Texas.
Mr McGauran took up the position in January 2018 after a
distinguished career in both the public and private sectors
in Australia.
Mr McGauran served 25 years in the Australian Parliament
between 1984 and 2008 including as a Cabinet Minister and
over 10 years as a Minister in several Departments
including the portfolios of Agriculture, Industry,
Communications and Immigration.
As Minister for Agriculture, Mr McGauran was a strong
proponent of free and fair trade and was instrumental in
negotiation of the initial stages of Free Trade Agreements
with China, Japan and Korea. Mr McGauran also chaired the
Cairns Group of agricultural countries, including the
United States, at a crucial period and drove commitments to
break down artificial barriers to trade.
On his retirement from Federal Parliament, Mr McGauran
became CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia representing
Australia’s 8,000 thoroughbred horse breeders and later CEO
of Racing Australia, the national regulatory authority for
racing in Australia. During that time Mr McGauran
instituted the most significant animal welfare and
integrity reforms in the history of Australian breeding and
racing. Immediately prior to taking up his Post in Houston,
Mr McGauran was Special Adviser to the CEO of Tabcorp
Holdings.
Mr McGauran graduated from Melbourne University with
degrees in Law and Arts.