Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong during a December 2024 visit to Ukraine. Photo: Penny Wong Facebook.
Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong has announced a fresh round of Australian ambassadorial and high commissioner appointments, with new representatives named for Ethiopia, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Brunei, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Pacific island nation of Nauru.
“Our diplomats are the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world and these appointments strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and its prosecution of our national interests around the globe,” Senator Wong said.
Dr Peter Hunter has been appointed as Australia’s Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, succeeding Ambassador Julia Niblett in the role.
The post also covers the countries of the Central African Republic, the Republic of Djibouti, and the Republic of South Sudan, and also work with the African Union which is based in Ethiopia, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Dr Hunter is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently seconded to the US Department of State. He has previously served in Kenya and Papua New Guinea.
Mr Michael Hoy has been appointed as the new High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam to succeed Luke Arnold in the post.
Mr Hoy is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Senior Adviser, Quad, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has previously served in Japan, Belgium, Afghanistan, Vietnam and at Australia’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.
Ms Susan Ryle has been appointed as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to succeed High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer and Acting High Commissioner Nardia Simpson.
Ms Ryle is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Director, Indian Ocean Programs. She has previously held posts in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Japan.
Mr Rod Brazier has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Indonesia to succeed Penny Williams in the post.
Mr Brazier was most recently Deputy Secretary, Development, Multilateral and Europe Group, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He previously served as Head of International Policy Division at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and as High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.
Mr Matthew Barclay will become Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Nauru to replace Sara Moriarty in the role.
Mr Barclay is a career public servant and was most recently Director of Solomon Islands Political and Strategy Section. He has also served as Consul-General in Phuket, Thailand, and held postings in Indonesia, Afghanistan, and Timor-Leste.
