43 Facts About Dave Sharma

Devanand Noel "Dave" Sharma was born on 21 December 1975 and is an Australian politician and former public servant and diplomat who has served as Senator for New South Wales since November 2023.

Dave Sharma previously served as head of the International Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and as Ambassador to Israel.

Dave Sharma's father is a Trinidadian of Indian heritage and his mother was from Sydney.

Dave Sharma's family moved to Turramurra in Sydney, in 1979.

Dave Sharma's mother died of breast cancer, and he was raised by his father.

Dave Sharma attended secondary school at Turramurra High School in Sydney.

Dave Sharma matriculated in 1993 with the highest possible Tertiary Entrance Rank of 100.

Dave Sharma studied a Bachelor of Arts at Cambridge University between 1994 and 1997.

Dave Sharma initially studied natural sciences but transferred to law in 1995 and graduated in law with first class honours.

Dave Sharma then returned to Sydney and studied medicine at Sydney Medical School.

Dave Sharma was one of seven Liberal MPs in the 46th Parliament of Australia who have obtained degrees at an Oxbridge or Ivy League university, the others being Alan Tudge, Angus Taylor, Andrew Laming, Josh Frydenberg, Greg Hunt and Paul Fletcher.

Dave Sharma began working for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1999 and held posts both in Australia and overseas.

Dave Sharma held appointments at the Australian High Commission to Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, and as a senior civilian adviser with the Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville.

From 2010 to 2012 Dave Sharma was the head of the International Division in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Dave Sharma advised the Prime Minister Julia Gillard during G-20 summits and East Asia summits and was involved in international diplomatic events which occurred in Australia including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2011 and during US President Barack Obama's visit to Australia in November 2011.

Dave Sharma served as the Assistant Secretary, responsible for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Africa Branch between 2012 and 2013.

In November 2012, Dave Sharma led a visit to Abuja, Nigeria and participated in talks with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Security Adviser as well as with officials from the Economic Community of West African States.

Dave Sharma was appointed the ambassador to Israel by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bob Carr, on 16 May 2013 replacing Andrea Faulkner.

Dave Sharma presented his credentials to Israeli President Shimon Peres on 8 August 2013.

Dave Sharma was reported to be helping a number of other Israeli technology companies to enter the Australian market.

Dave Sharma contested the Wentworth by-election against a field of 15 other candidates with independent candidate Kerryn Phelps, a former City of Sydney Councillor and AMA President, widely regarded as Dave Sharma's most serious competitor.

Dave Sharma was criticised for allegations of insider trading, where it is alleged he bought shares of Qantas before it was announced they would receive a rescue package and for purchasing shares of CSL before they were awarded the tender for production of the AstraZeneca Covid 19 Vaccine.

Dave Sharma was named in media reports as one of several moderates within the Liberal Party agitating for the Government to commit to a such target by 2050.

At the 2022 federal election Dave Sharma faced an independent challenge from businesswoman Allegra Spender, who is part of a noteworthy family of politicians, and part of a broader movement of teal independents during this election.

Dave Sharma lost the 2022 election to independent candidate Allegra Spender.

Dave Sharma was selected by the Liberal Party to fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by the resignation of Marise Payne.

Dave Sharma was one of ten candidates to nominate for the position, beating out the likes of former Australian Capital Territory senator Zed Seselja and former New South Wales state minister for transport Andrew Constance, both of whom were endorsed by party leader Peter Dutton.

Dave Sharma opposed electric car mandates that he felt were too totalitarian or communist.

Dave Sharma encourages Australia to engage in "political warfare," such as disinformation campaigns, voting interference, and gathering military intelligence, in countries that pose a threat to Australia.

Dave Sharma used Israel's covert intelligence organisation as an example, although he opposes the assassinations Israel's covert operations are known for.

Dave Sharma argues this form of statecraft is necessary due to similar efforts by other countries to interfere with Australia's elections and to spread propaganda in Australia.

Dave Sharma started advocating for these tactics after the US started targeting Russian politicians with negative campaigns in response to Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections.

Dave Sharma said Australia needs to invest more in its military.

Dave Sharma argues the influence the US historically used to secure international peace is fading.

Dave Sharma wants Australia to secure more positions within UN agencies, as he says China and others have already done.

Dave Sharma said COVID-19 travel bans were an excessive burden on personal liberties, and has argued for reform of the World Health Organization.

Dave Sharma wrote a paper for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute encouraging the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to invest more in online diplomacy programs, saying their social media activity was largely canned posts.

Dave Sharma has advocated for the demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip, but said conflict is unlikely to end until Hamas stops firing rockets over the border.

In 2019, Dave Sharma said an accused paedophile, Malka Leifer, was making fraudulent claims of mental health issues in the Israeli court system to delay extradition to Australia, and criticised Israel for its leniency.

Dave Sharma was involved in motions attempting to get her extradited to Australia.

Dave Sharma is married to Rachel Lord, a diplomat, and lawyer at Google and Youtube.

Dave Sharma made the comment after she had withdrawn from the 2019 federal election when her comments about Israel and Palestine were publicized.

In October 2020, the Federal Court dismissed Parke's defamation action against Dave Sharma, but ruled that Dave Sharma's earlier settlement offer should take effect, where each party would have to pay their own costs.