Keith Suter

Keith Douglas Suter (born 1948) is an Australian consultant on strategic planning and a futurist.

Suter has achieved three doctorates. The first of these was about the international law of guerrilla warfare (University of Sydney), and the second about the social and economic consequences of the arms race (Deakin University) and a third doctorate on scenario planning (Sydney University). He was awarded the Australian Government's Peace Medal in 1986: The International Year of Peace and was Rostrum's "Communicator of the Year" in 1995.

In the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours, Suter was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "significant service to international relations, and to the Uniting Church in Australia".

He has been appointed to many roles throughout his career, including chairperson of the International Humanitarian Law Committee of Australian Red Cross (NSW), chairperson of the International Commission of Jurists (NSW), director of studies at the International Law Association (Australian Branch) and managing director of the Global Directions think tank.

He has also been a member of the Club of Rome since 1993. The club is “an informal association of independent leading personalities from politics, business and science, men and women who are long-term thinkers interested in contributing in a systemic interdisciplinary and holistic manner to a better world. The Club of Rome members share a common concern for the future of humanity and the planet.” The club has only 100 members, with Mikhail Gorbachev amongst them. As of 2023, Suter is the President of the Australian Chapter of the Club of Rome.

Suter is a life member of the United Nations Association of Australia in recognition of his service. At various times from 1978 to 1999, he served as the national president of the organisation and took on the roles of the Western Australia and New South Wales state president. He was the president of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (1991-1998) at the University of Sydney and a consultant on social policy with the Wesley Mission for 17 years. In addition, he served as a consultant for a number of other organisations, with a focus on local and international issues.

He is also an active member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He frequently appears on radio and television discussing politics and international affairs. He has been for many years the Foreign Affairs Editor on Australia's Channel 7’s Sunrise program.

Positions held

 * President of the Australian Chapter of Club of Rome, the global think tank on economic and environmental matters
 * President of the United Nations Association (NSW) and President of the Society for International Development (Sydney Chapter).
 * Culture and politics guest speaker at Wesley Institute, Drummoyne NSW, Australia.
 * Member, Australian Foreign Minister’s National Consultative Committee on International Security Issues, Canberra
 * Consultant Conflict Resolution Network, Sydney
 * Director of Studies, International Law Association, Australian Branch
 * Chairperson, International Humanitarian Law Committee of Australian Red Cross (NSW)
 * Chairperson, International Commission of Jurists (NSW)
 * Lecturer, Workers' Educational Association, Sydney
 * Visiting Lecturer, Department of Politics, Macquarie University
 * Visiting Lecturer, Sydney International Programs, Boston University, USA

Published works

 * An International Law of Guerrilla Warfare: The Global Politics of Law-Making, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 1984
 * Is there Life after ANZUS: New Directions for the Peace Movement, Pluto, Sydney, 1987
 * Antarctica: Private Property or Public Heritage?, Zed, London, 1991
 * Global Agenda, Albatross, Sydney, 1994
 * Global Change, Albatross, Sydney, 1996
 * Legal Studies, Macmillan, Melbourne, 2000
 * In Defence of Globalisation, University of NSW Press, Sydney, 2001
 * Global Order and Global Disorder: Globalization and the Nation-State, Praeger, Westport, CONN, 2002
 * Global Notebook, Random House, Sydney, 2005
 * Teach Yourself Globalization, Hodder, London, 2006
 * Local Notebook, Random House, Sydney, 2007
 * All About Terrorism, Random House, Sydney, 2008