Mr Downer was executive director of the Australian Chamber of Commerce. Since departing Canberra and the diplomatic service, he has had a number of board appointments, including the Advisory Board of British strategic intelligence and advisory firm Hakluyt & Company, merchant bankers Cappello Capital Corp. the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Huawei in Australia, the board of Lakes Oil and mining company Ironbark Zinc. He remains a columnist for the Australian Financial Review and is Companion of the Order of Australia. He is Member of the Risk Management Committee and Member of the People, Culture and Resources Committee.
