Strategic Education, Inc. announced that former Australian Ambassador to the United States, the Honorable Michael Thawley, has been appointed to the Company's board of directors. Mr. Thawley joins the Strategic Education Board of Directors with a broad range of international and Australia-based business leadership excellence as former vice-chairman of Capital Group International, a member of Capital Group Companies. Mr. Thawley entered the Australian foreign service in 1972 and served at embassies throughout the world.

He was head of the international division of the Prime Minister's department under Prime Minister Keating from 1993 to 1996 and then international adviser to Prime Minister Howard from 1996 to 1999. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Thawley served as Australia's ambassador to the United States, playing a key role in achieving a free-trade agreement between Australia and the United States and legislation that provided a unique visa for Australian professionals to work in the US. After serving under Prime Minister Howard, Mr. Thawley worked for Capital Group.

While at Capital Group Mr. Thawley served as Senior Vice President and International Adviser of Capital Strategy, Inc.; Senior Vice President of Capital Research and Management Company; and as Vice Chairman of the Board of several global mutual funds in the American Funds family. In late 2014 he returned to Australia as the secretary of the department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under Prime Minister Abbott and then briefly under Prime Minister Turnbull. In this position, he was the chief policy adviser to the prime minister and head of the Australian public service, before rejoining Capital Group in August 2016.

Mr. Thawley was born in London and was educated at Australian National University and Surrey University. Mr. Thawley will remain vice chairman of the board of Capital International Fund which oversees the management of funds invested by mostly non-US clients.