Sir Arthur Michael Palliser GCMG PC (9 April 1922 - 19 June 2012) was the vice chairman of Salzburg Global Seminar's Board of Directors and a senior British diplomat.
Born in Reigate, Surrey, the son of Admiral Sir Arthur Palliser, he received his education at Wellington and Merton College, Oxford. Appointed a Second Lieutenant November 21, 1942, he served in the Coldstream Guards during World War II. In 1947, he joined the British Diplomatic Service and held a number of appointments at home and abroad, including Head of the Policy Planning Staff, Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Minister at the British Embassy in Paris, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Communities, and Permanent Under-Secretary of State and Head of the Diplomatic Service (1975 - 1982). From April to July 1982, during the Falklands campaign, he served as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. He was appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1983.
That same year, he joined the board of the London investment bank Samuel Montagu & Co., a subsidiary of the Midland Bank, of which he became a deputy chairman. He was chairman of Samuel Montagu from 1984 - 1993, then vice chairman until his retirement in 1996. From 1983 - 1992, he was non-executive director of several industrial companies. From 1986 - 1994, he was a member of the board of the Royal National Theatre.
Sir Michael served on Salzburg Global Seminar's Board of Directors for 16 years, 13 of which as Vice Chair of the Board. In addition to serving on the Board, Sir Michael proved himself to be an active, engaged supporter of programs in Salzburg, attending more than 25.