James Larsen

{{Short description|Australian diplomat and bureaucrat}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox Politician

| office = Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations

| predecessor = Mitch Fifield

| termstart = 26 July 2023

| birth_name = James Martin Larsen

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1965|03}}

| occupation = Diplomat, lawyer

| alma_mater = University of Melbourne {{small|(BA, LLB)}}

| children = 3

| image name = James Larsen (2).jpg

| caption = Larsen, pictured in 2006.

| honorific_prefix = His Excellency

| nominator = Anthony Albanese

| appointer = David Hurley

| birth_place = Geelong, Victoria

}}

James Larsen (born March 1965) is an Australian diplomat and bureaucrat currently serving as the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations. He has previously worked as the Ambassador to Turkey and the Ambassador to Israel.

Larsen was born in Geelong, and later studied at the University of Melbourne, attaining a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws. Before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Larsen worked as a commercial solicitor for MinterEllison from 1988 to 1991.{{Cite web |title=James Larsen Biography |url=https://turkey.embassy.gov.au/anka/HOMbiographyLarsen.html |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=Australian Embassy Türkiye |archive-date=5 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210405173757/https://turkey.embassy.gov.au/anka/HOMbiographyLarsen.html |url-status=live }} He joined DFAT in 1992, and worked as second secretary at the Australian embassy in Thailand from 1994 to 1997.{{Cite press release |title=Australia replaces envoy to Israel |date=2006-08-08 |publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |url=https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/australia-replaces-envoy-israel/docview/452582016/se-2 |language=en-AU |access-date=2023-08-05 |location=Canberra |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030025037/https://www.proquest.com/docview/452582016 |url-status=live }} Larsen was then appointed as director of the Administrative and Domestic Law Group from 1998 to 2000, before joining the Australian embassy in Belgium as counsellor. From 2004 to 2006 he was legal adviser and assistant secretary in the legal branch of DFAT. In 2006 he was appointed Ambassador to Israel. In this post, he oversaw the relocation of the Australian embassy from Europe House to South Tel Aviv.{{Cite web |last=Cashman |first=Greer Fay |date=2023-07-16 |title=Grapevine July 16, 2023: A lucky day |url=https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-750176 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |issn=0792-822X |oclc=15700704 |archive-date=31 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731143234/https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-750176 |url-status=live }} His next appointment was as Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues.{{Cite news |date=2010-02-28 |title=New ambassador for people smuggling announced |agency=Australian Associated Press |location=Sydney |url=https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/fed-new-ambassador-people-smuggling-announced/docview/448534322/se-2 |access-date=2023-08-05 |via=ProQuest |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805105542/https://www.proquest.com/docview/448534322 |url-status=live }} He then became principal advisor to Foreign Minister Bob Carr.{{Cite news |date=2012-05-27 |title=Carr appoints new people-smuggling envoy |work=Nine News |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co. |agency=Australian Associated Press |url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/carr-appoints-new-people-smuggling-envoy/039240a9-c699-43f7-a32e-74f36a34e004 |access-date=2023-08-05 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805103443/https://www.9news.com.au/national/carr-appoints-new-people-smuggling-envoy/039240a9-c699-43f7-a32e-74f36a34e004 |url-status=live }} He served as the Ambassador to Turkey from 2014 to 2017.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Greg |last2=Williams |first2=Perry |date=2021-04-13 |title=Scott Morrison getting warmer on net-zero target with new climate tsar James Larsen |work=The Australian |publisher=News Corp Australia |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/scott-morrison-getting-warmer-on-netzero-target-with-new-climate-tsar-james-larsen/news-story/55dca99acc9649765aedd949e0ca0920 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-08-05 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230805080102/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/scott-morrison-getting-warmer-on-netzero-target-with-new-climate-tsar-james-larsen/news-story/55dca99acc9649765aedd949e0ca0920?amp&nk=a8c11ec94a362c48480f69328ed75821-1691222476 |archive-date=2023-08-05}} Larsen was only {{Convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} from the blast in the March 2016 Ankara bombing.{{Cite news |last=Sherden |first=Amy |date=2016-03-14 |title=Ankara bombing: Australian ambassador to Turkey recounts chaotic blast scene |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-14/australian-ambassador-to-turkey-recounts-ankara-blast/7245966 |access-date=2023-08-05 |archive-date=3 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103113825/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-14/australian-ambassador-to-turkey-recounts-ankara-blast/7245966 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Koziol |first=Michael |date=2016-03-14 |title=Australia's ambassador to Turkey James Larsen just '20 metres' from Ankara bomb blast: Julie Bishop |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australias-ambassador-to-turkey-james-larsen-just-20-metres-from-ankara-bomb-blast-julie-bishop-20160314-gni24w.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230805062259/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australias-ambassador-to-turkey-james-larsen-just-20-metres-from-ankara-bomb-blast-julie-bishop-20160314-gni24w.html |archive-date=2023-08-05 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last=Aubusson |first=Kate |date=2016-03-14 |title=Australia's Ambassador to Turkey James Larsen was with his young daughter when car bomb exploded metres away in Ankara, killing 37 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/australias-ambassador-to-turkey-james-larsen-was-with-his-young-daughter-when-car-bomb-exploded-metres-away-in-ankara-killing-37-20160314-gnitxd.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230805061516/https://www.smh.com.au/world/australias-ambassador-to-turkey-james-larsen-was-with-his-young-daughter-when-car-bomb-exploded-metres-away-in-ankara-killing-37-20160314-gnitxd.html |archive-date=2023-08-05 |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Fairfax Media |language=en-AU}}

In 2020, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and managed the industrial relations working group of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission. In 2021, Larsen was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and climate coordinator to manage the work undertaken by DFAT and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. Larsen's appointment as permanent representative to the UN was announced on 11 July 2023.{{Cite press release |title=Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations |date=2023-07-11 |publisher=Minister for Foreign Affairs |url=https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/ambassador-and-permanent-representative-united-nations |language=en-AU |access-date=2023-08-05 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805055237/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/ambassador-and-permanent-representative-united-nations |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Barlow |first=Karen |date=2023-07-11 |title=Penny Wong announces diplomatic posts for UN, Maldives, Mexico, and Ambassador for Arms Control |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8266372/wong-appoints-new-ambassador-to-un-first-to-maldives/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=The Canberra Times |publisher=Australian Community Media |language=en-AU |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711094123/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8266372/wong-appoints-new-ambassador-to-un-first-to-maldives/ |url-status=live }} He presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 26 July 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=New Permanent Representative of Australia Presents Credentials |url=https://press.un.org/en/2023/bio5504.doc.htm |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=UN Press |publisher=United Nations |language=en}}

In 2023, amidst the Israel–Hamas war, Australia abstained from voting on Resolution ES-10/L.25. Larsen explained that Australia believed the resolution to be incomplete, as it did not recognise Hamas as the perpetrators of the 7 October attacks on Israel, although Australia did "agree with the central proposition, that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire and human suffering is widespread and unacceptable."{{Cite web |last=Visentin |first=Lisa |date=2023-10-28 |title=Australia abstains on ‘incomplete’ UN resolution for Gaza truce |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-abstains-on-incomplete-un-resolution-for-gaza-truce-20231028-p5efqv.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=Nine Entertainment Co |language=en-AU |issn=0312-6315 |oclc=226369741 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028145938/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-abstains-on-incomplete-un-resolution-for-gaza-truce-20231028-p5efqv.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Manfield |first=Evelyn |date=2023-10-28 |title=Australia abstains 'with disappointment' from UN resolution on Israel-Hamas truce |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-28/australia-abstains-from-un-vote-on-israel-and-hamas-truce/103035664 |access-date=2023-10-28 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028145936/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-28/australia-abstains-from-un-vote-on-israel-and-hamas-truce/103035664 |url-status=live }}

Larsen is married to Antoinette Merrillees, daughter of Robert Merrillees, who are also both career diplomats. They have three children.