Dr. Heinz Anton Hafner was born in Vienna in 1955. He graduated in law and political science from the University of Vienna, obtaining the title „Doctor of Law”. He served a long career in the Austrian civil service, working first in the legal department, subsequently in the Chancery and in the office of the Federal President, from where he retired in June 2020 with the title of Secretary General.

He is a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta since 1994. He holds the rank of Grand Cross of Magistral Grace with Ribbon. On 18 October 2022, he presented his credentials as Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the President of the Republic of Hungary Katalin Novák.

He is married to Mag. Monika Hafner. The couple have no children.