In 1960, Renouf was appointed the first Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, a position in which he remained until 1963.[3] Between 1963 and 1965, Renouf worked at the Australian embassy in Washington, D.C.[4] He and his wife returned to Canberra for less than a year before Renouf was named Australia's first Ambassador to Yugoslavia in August 1966, to begin his appointment in November.[2]
From 1969 to 1973, Renouf was Australia's Ambassador to France.[5] In 1969, he was named Australia's first Ambassador to Portugal, with the intent that he would continue to reside in Paris.[6][7] From 1974 to 1977, Renouf was the permanent head of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.[8] During 1978 and 1979 he was the Australian Ambassador to the United States.[8]
Renouf wrote at least three books: The Frightened Country (1979),[8]Let Justice Be Done. The Foreign Policy of Dr H.V. Evatt (1983) and Malcolm Fraser and Australian Foreign Policy (1986).[8]
