Editing Alexander Downer (section)

==Post-parliamentary career==
Following the [[Howard government]]'s defeat at the [[2007 Australian federal election|2007 federal election]], Downer declined to make a comeback to the leadership and to serve on the Opposition frontbench, amid widespread speculation that he would resign his seat and leave federal politics, having spent over a decade in government. He subsequently resigned from Parliament on 14 July 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/downer-quits-politics-eyes-un-role-20080703-3136.html |title=Downer quits politics, eyes UN role |publisher=The Age|date=3 July 2008 |access-date=13 June 2010 | location=Melbourne}}</ref> and took a consulting job with [[Woodside Energy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/timor-spy-scandal-former-asis-officer-facing-prosecution-20150621-ghtp17.html |title=Timor spy scandal: Former ASIS officer facing prosecution |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=21 June 2015 |access-date=8 September 2019}}</ref> His resignation triggered a [[2008 Mayo by-election|by-election]] in the seat of Mayo.

On 3 July 2008, the [[University of Adelaide]] announced Downer's appointment as Visiting Professor of Politics and International Trade in the School of History and Politics, including contributions to teaching and research, and work with the University's Institute for International Trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news27581.html |title=Former Foreign Affairs Minister takes uni role |publisher=University of Adelaide |date=2008-07-03 |access-date=2013-07-16}}</ref> He was also the vice chairman at [[Carnegie Mellon University]], South Australia.

At about the same time, he went into partnership with Ian Smith (a former Liberal Party advisor and husband of former [[Australian Democrats]] leader and Senator for South Australia [[Natasha Stott Despoja]]) and [[Nick Bolkus]] (a former [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] Senator for South Australia) in a boutique consultancy firm, Bespoke Approach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bespokeapproach.com/AlexanderDowner/tabid/59/Default.aspx |title= Alexander Downer |publisher=Bespoke Approach |access-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601104012/http://www.bespokeapproach.com/AlexanderDowner/tabid/59/Default.aspx |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref>

Also in 2008, Downer discussed the possibility of working as a United Nations envoy to [[Cyprus]] with the [[United Nations|UN Secretary-General]] to help revive the peace process.<ref>{{cite news | title=Rudd supports possible Downer move to UN | date=21 May 2008 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/22/2252859.htm | work =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date =22 May 2008 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080524000119/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/22/2252859.htm| archive-date= 24 May 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref> The appointment received the support of the [[First Rudd government|Rudd government]], via the Foreign Minister [[Stephen Smith (Australian politician)|Stephen Smith]],<ref>{{cite news |agency=AAP |url=https://news.theage.com.au/national/smith-backs-downer-as-un-envoy-to-cyprus-20080602-2ks1.html |title=Smith backs Downer as UN envoy to Cyprus |work=The Age |date=2 June 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=2 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301030858/http://www.theage.com.au//national/smith-backs-downer-as-un-envoy-to-cyprus-20080602-2ks1.html <!-- For whatever reason, the http version is dead (won't load), but the archive of the https version redirects to an archive of the http version -->|archive-date=2021-03-01}}</ref> and it took effect on 14 July 2008.<ref>{{cite news |work=ABC News |date=11 July 2008 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-07-12/un-names-downer-as-cyprus-envoy/438140 |title=UN names Downer as Cyprus envoy |access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref>

He resigned in February 2014 to take up the post of Australia's High Commissioner in London where he replaced former South Australian Labor premier, [[Mike Rann]].<ref>{{cite news |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/31/alexander-downer-will-be-australias-next-high-commissioner-to-the-uk |title=Alexander Downer will be Australia's next high commissioner to the UK |first=Daniel |last=Hurst |date=31 March 2014 |access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> On 10 May 2016, according to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Downer and Erika Thompson met with [[George Papadopoulos]] in London and information from this meeting caused the FBI to open a counterintelligence investigation into Russia's [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|attempts to disrupt]] the [[2016 US Presidential election]], and whether there was any involvement by [[Donald Trump]]'s associates.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/30/us/politics/how-fbi-russia-investigation-began-george-papadopoulos.html |title=How the Russia Inquiry Began: A Campaign Aide, Drinks and Talk of Political Dirt |last1=LaFraniere |first1=Sharon |date=2017-12-30 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2018-04-30 |last2=Mazzetti |first2=Mark |issn=0362-4331 |last3=Apuzzo |first3=Matt}}</ref> Downer told ''The Australian'' in a 28 April 2018 interview that "nothing [Papadopoulos] said in their meeting indicated Trump himself had been conspiring with the Russians to collect information on Hillary Clinton".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/alexander-downer-signing-off/news-story/02cd18d37828c8957bfb62b18e411595|title=Alexander Downer, signing off | website=The Australian |date=28 April 2018 |access-date=2018-05-30}}</ref> Downer remained as High Commissioner until 27 April 2018 when he was succeeded by George Brandis.

He has had a number of board appointments, including the Advisory Board of British strategic intelligence and advisory firm [[Hakluyt & Company]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/downer-joins-eddington-at-spy-company-20081013-4zux.html |title=Downer joins Eddington at 'spy' company |publisher=The Age|date=14 October 2008 |access-date=13 June 2010 | location=Melbourne | first1=Richard | last1=Baker | first2=Nick | last2=McKenzie}}</ref> merchant bankers Cappello Capital Corp.,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cappellocorp.com/index.php?pageID=alexdowner.php |title=Private Placements of Equity Capital Private Public Companies PIPE Financing |publisher=Cappello Capital Corp |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> the [[Adelaide Symphony Orchestra]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aso.com.au/staff_listing.htm |title=Board and Staff listing |publisher=Adelaide Symphony Orchestra |access-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125232246/http://aso.com.au/staff_listing.htm |archive-date=25 January 2010 }}</ref> [[Huawei]] in Australia,<ref>{{cite news |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/chinese-telco-hires-local-guns/news-story/e5c1feac4116360fcd9875a0408e48bb |title=Huawei names John Brumby, Alexander Downer board members |url-access=subscription |date=16 August 2011}}</ref> and the board of Lakes Oil.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/downer-joins-lakes-oil-as-rinehart-board-appointee-20130201-2dp3a.html |title=Downer joins Lakes Oil as Rinehart board appointee |first=Peter |last=Cai |date=1 February 2013 |access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> Downer has said that Huawei should not be considered a potential national security risk.<ref>{{cite web |first=Malcolm |last=Maiden |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/huawei-a-security-risk-by-any-gauge-20120327-1vwnu.html |title=Huawei a security risk by any gauge |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2009-10-24 |access-date=2013-07-16}}</ref> Downer's comments are at odds with an October 2012 US congressional panel's findings that have deemed Huawei a security threat to the US and other nations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19867399 |title=Huawei and ZTE pose security threat, warns US panel |publisher=BBC News |date=2012-10-08 |access-date=2013-07-16}}</ref>

A longtime supporter of [[Australians for Constitutional Monarchy]], Downer has played a leading role opposing moves to replace the [[Monarchy in Australia#Title|Monarch]] with a [[Republicanism in Australia|president]].<ref name="Pressure for 2010 vote on republic| Herald Sun">{{cite news | url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23262954-662,00.html |title=Pressure for 2010 vote on republic | work=Herald Sun | first=Malcolm | last=Farr | date=23 February 2008}}</ref>{{verification failed|reason=404, no Wayback Machine archives. An archive for this URL at https://archive.today/20121230123241/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/downer-under-fire-over-golf-game/story-e6frf7l6-1111115626697 brings up an article about Downer by the same author with a different title that doesn't mention republicanism |date=February 2022}}

In 2015, he was recommended by British and Australian officials as a possible compromise candidate for [[Commonwealth Secretary-General]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Alexander Downer touted as next secretary-general of the Commonwealth |first=Lenore |last=Taylor |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/11/alexander-downer-touted-next-secretary-general-commonwealth |date=10 November 2015 |access-date=24 November 2015 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> but Baroness [[Patricia Scotland]] was ultimately elected to the post at the [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015|2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]].<ref name=sg>{{cite news |title=Commonwealth elects first woman secretary general |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151127/local/commonwealth-elects-first-woman-secretary-general.593722 |access-date=27 November 2015 |work=Times of Malta |date=27 November 2015}}</ref>

In 2017, it was announced that Downer would join UK think tank [[Policy Exchange]] as Chair of Trustees.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Policy Exchange is delighted to announce that our next Chairman of Trustees will be Alexander Downer, High Commissioner of Australia |agency=Policy Exchange |url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/news/policy-exchange-is-delighted-to-announce-that-our-next-chairman-of-trustees-will-be-alexander-downer-high-commissioner-of-australia/ |date=19 June 2017 |access-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> In June 2018, Downer became the Executive Chairman of the International School of Government at King's College, London. He is a non-executive director of CQS and of Yellow Cake plc.

In 2018, he was named to [[Tilray]]'s International Advisory Board.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://business.financialpost.com/cannabis/tilray-names-several-former-politicians-to-international-advisory-board|title=Tilray names several former politicians to international advisory board |author=<!-- Staff writer(s); no by-line ("Cannabis" is the topic, not a by-line) -->|newspaper=Financial Post|date=2018-12-13|access-date=2019-07-26}}</ref> {{As of|2019|post=,}} Downer is Executive Chair of the International School for Government at [[King's College London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/alexander-downer|title=Alexander Downer AC|date=10 September 2019 |publisher=King's College London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/13/right-time-unashamedly-political-british-ambassador-washington/ |title=It is the right time for an unashamedly political British ambassador to Washington |first=Alexander |last=Downer |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=13 July 2019}}</ref>

In 2019 and 2020, Downer wrote regular columns for the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]''. In his column on 1 November 2020 discussing the forthcoming US election (held on 3 November), he declared that if he was eligible to vote in the US (which, he explained, he was not), although "there's no perfect choice", he would vote for Donald Trump.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alexander |last=Downer |title=Why I would grit my teeth and vote to re-elect Trump |work=Australian Financial Review |date=2 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, Downer joined ASX-listed mining company [[Ironbark Zinc]] as non-executive director.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=Ironbark Zinc welcomes Alexander Downer and Paul Cahill as directors |url=https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/961480/ironbark-zinc-welcomes-alexander-downer-and-paul-cahill-as-directors-961480.html |access-date=2021-09-28 |publisher=Proactive |language=en}}</ref>