Career
After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne and working as a school teacher, Furner embarked on a career change and enlisted in the Australian Army, becoming one of the first cadets to be trained at the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. On completion of his training, Furner joined the infantry where he was posted overseas with the 1st Commonwealth Division during the Korean War. In 1982, Furner joined the Joint Intelligence Organisation as deputy director, and retired from the army to take the civilian post of director a few months later.
In late 1983, the acting Director-General of American Society for Industrial Security. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bill Hayden, asked Furner to take the role in an acting capacity in February 1984.
