Ambassador Tyson is a former career officer in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Until 2015 he served as Ambassador to Kuwait, and prior to that as Ambassador to Iraq (2008-11), the Russian Federation (2005-08) and Saudi Arabia (2001-05).

Other overseas assignments have been in the United States, the Soviet Union, Thailand and New Zealand.
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Mr Tyson has also held senior positions in Canberra with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; and in Melbourne with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.