Roy James Cameron

Roy James Cameron was an Australian statistician and diplomat who was born in Port Pirie, South Australia, on 11 March 1923. He studied mathematics and economics at the University of Adelaide and joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1941. He worked in various departments, including the Department of Post-War Reconstruction, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Treasury. He became a senior economic adviser to several ministers and prime ministers, such as Robert Menzies, Harold Holt, John Gorton, and Gough Whitlam. He was also involved in international negotiations and conferences on trade, finance, and development issues. In 1977, he was appointed as the Australian Statistician, the head of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). He led the ABS for eight years and oversaw several reforms and innovations in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of official statistics. He also represented Australia in various international statistical organizations and forums, such as the United Nations Statistical Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the International Statistical Institute. He was a strong advocate for the independence and integrity of official statistics and for their use in informing public policy and decision making. He retired from the ABS in 1985 and became the Australian Ambassador to Japan. He served in this role until 1988 and played a key role in enhancing the economic, political, and cultural ties between Australia and Japan. He then became the Australian High Commissioner to Canada from 1988 to 1991 and continued his diplomatic efforts to promote bilateral cooperation and friendship. He returned to Australia in 1991 and settled in Canberra. He died on 3 October 2006.