Richard E. Butler

Richard E. Butler (1926 – 25 June 2012) was an Australian public servant who was the secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union from 1983 to 1989. He was also its deputy secretary-general from 1974 to 1982, and in an ad interim tenure from 1968 to 1973.

Early life Butler was born in Black Rock, Melbourne, Australia in 1926. Butler's successor as general secretary of the ITU was Pekka Tarjanne.

He was also on a number of boards, including chairman of Worldspace-Asia, a company related to Worldspace, that was set up to deliver digital radio from satellite to developing nations and remote areas, and the board of Sky Station Australia, a company that planned to provide broadband communications from a network of tethered airships.

Death Butler died in Melbourne in 2012 at the age of 86. In a statement of condolences to his friends and family, the Australian communications minister Stephen Conroy said, "Dick helped shape the telecommunications industry we know today. In the decades following his leadership of the ITU, he continued to make a substantial contribution. As recently as this year, Dick was an honoured member of Australia's delegation to the World Radiocommunication Conference... For over 30 years he has mentored many individuals both from Australia and around the world. He will be missed by all."