Foreign Minister Penny Wong addresses a National Press Club audience. Photo: National Press Club.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong has announced a new round of ambassador and high commissioner appointments to the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Vatican, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the United Nations, and for Counter-Terrorism.
Susannah Hodson is Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, succeeding Phoebe Smith.
Ms Hodson is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently director of sports projects, Office of the Pacific. She has previously served in Fiji and Belgium.
Peter Roberts OAM is Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji, replacing Ewen McDonald.
Mr Roberts is a senior career officer with DFAT and is currently Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo. He has previously served as Australia’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, held postings in Samoa and Japan, and served as a Senior Civilian Monitor in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
Keith Pitt has been named as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Holy See, to succeed Chiara Porro.
Mr Pitt was a Liberal member of the Federal Parliament from 2013 until 2025, serving as a minister and assistant minister in portfolios including trade, tourism and investment, resources, and water.
Daniel Sloper PSM has been appointed as Australia’s next High Commissioner to New Zealand, replacing Harinder Sidhu AM.
Mr Sloper is a senior career officer with DFAT and was most recently First Assistant Secretary, East Asia Division.
His previous postings include First Assistant Secretary of the Pacific Division and Australia’s G20 Special Representative, and he has served as Australia’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, as Deputy Head of Mission in Berlin, and in Tokyo.
Toby Sharpe has been named as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Palau, to succeed Richelle Turner.
Mr Sharpe is a career officer with DFAT and was most recently First Secretary in Beijing. He has also previously served overseas with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.
Ewen McDonald will be Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, to replace John Feakes.
Mr McDonald is a senior career officer with DFAT and was most recently Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji. He has also previously served overseas as Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, which included accreditation to the Cook Islands and Niue.
Clare Walsh will be Australia’s next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, succeeding Amanda Gorely.
Ms Walsh is a senior career officer with DFAT and is currently the chief operating officer. She has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission in Japan. She has also held several senior multilateral, development, climate change and corporate positions in DFAT and other Commonwealth agencies.
Gemma Huggins is Australia’s next Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, replacing Richard Feakes.
The Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism leads Australia’s international engagement on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism, and sits on the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee.
Ms Huggins will represent Australia’s interests at key international forums, advance cooperation with Australia’s partners, and work closely with agencies across government and non-government partners, to support national counter-terrorism efforts and address threats identified in A Safer Australia – Australia’s Counter-Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy 2025.
Ms Huggins brings extensive counter-terrorism experience to the role. She was most recently Assistant Secretary Middle East Branch in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Her previous diplomatic roles include Australian Deputy Head of Mission to Lebanon and a posting to Zimbabwe.
