Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong at the recent UN General Assembly in New York. Photo: Facebook.
Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong has announced a round of new Ambassador, High Commissioner and Consul-General appointments covering Bali, China, Colombia, Estonia, Hong Kong, Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Russia and Sweden.
Jo Stevens has been appointed as Australia’s new Consul-General in Bali, replacing Anthea Griffin.
“The Consulate-General in Bali advances Australia’s business, development, education and cultural interests in Bali and East and West Nusa Tenggara,” Senator Wong said. “With over one million Australians visiting Bali each year, providing high-quality consular services to Australians remains a top priority for the Consulate-General.”
Ms Stevens is a senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has previously served overseas in Port Moresby, Bangkok, Baghdad, Hong Kong and London.
Scott Dewar has been appointed as Australia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, replacing Ambassador Graham Fletcher in the role.
“Engagement between Australia and China has developed over more than 50 years of diplomatic relations,” Senator Wong said. “Our countries continue to work towards a stable relationship under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
Mr Dewar is a senior Australian Public Service officer, previously holding the positions of Deputy Secretary International and Security Group in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Consul-General in Honolulu, and has held postings in China and the Republic of Korea.
Anna Chrisp has been appointed as Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, a position that is also accredited to Venezuela. She will replace the outgoing Chargé d’Affaires Mr Bernard Unkles in the role.
Ms Chrisp is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officer who most recently served as Director Pacific Regional Organisations and Governance Section, and has previously served overseas in Egypt.
Sri Ayyalaraju has been appointed as Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia, replacing Ambassador Genevieve Clune in the role.
Mr Ayyalaraju is a senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He most recently served as Australia’s Consul-General in the UK, and has previously served overseas in India, Vietnam and Argentina.
Gareth Williams will be Australia’s next Consul-General in Hong Kong, replacing Consul-General Elizabeth Ward in the role.
“Australia has deep historical connections to Hong Kong, built on strong trade and investment ties and long-standing personal and cultural bonds,” Senator Wong said. “It is home to one of the largest Australian communities in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia’s largest commercial presence in Asia.”
Mr Williams is a senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Assistant Secretary, National Foundation for Australia-China Relations. He has previously served overseas at the United Nations in New York and in Thailand.
Paul Wilson will be Australia’s next Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, succeeding Ambassador Brek Batley.
Mr Wilson is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officer who has served as Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji, Consul-General in Noumea, Geneva and Paris, and with the Peace Monitoring Group in Bougainville.
John Feakes will be Australia’s next High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, succeeding Jon Philp.
Mr Feakes is a senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officer who has served as High Commissioner to Fiji, High Commissioner to Kenya, Deputy High Commissioner and Counsellor in Papua New Guinea, and has had postings in the US and the Philippines.
John Geering will succeed Ambassador Graeme Meehan as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Russian Federation, which includes accreditation to the Republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan.
“Under Mr Geering’s leadership, the Australian Embassy in Moscow will continue to directly convey Australia’s steadfast opposition to Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, and the backing provided by Belarus,” Senator Wong said.
“Mr Geering will also work to preserve Australia’s interests in Russia and other countries of accreditation and maintain our limited consular support to Australians in the region.”
Mr Geering is a senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officer who has held the positions of First Assistant Secretary Executive Division and First Assistant Secretary Europe and Latin America Division.
Frances Sagala has been named to succeed Ambassador Bernard Philip as Australia’s next Ambassador to Sweden, which is also accredited to Finland and Latvia.
Ms Sagala is a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officer who was most recently Director Regional Maritime Security and South China Sea Section, and has also previously held a posting in France.
Original Article published by Andrew McLaughlin on Riotact.
