William Paterson PSM is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

He received a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

[1] Before taking up his position in Korea he was First Assistant Secretary, International Security Division in Canberra and Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism.

[1][3] Paterson has previously served as Ambassador to Thailand,[4] Minister at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Washington and in earlier postings to Vienna, Baghdad and Dhaka.

He was also Chief of Staff to Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in 2000.