21 May 2009
Diplomatic appointment - Ambassador to Sweden
Mr Hugh Borrowman is to be Australia's new Ambassador to Sweden.
Mr Borrowman succeeds Mr Howard Brown who has been Ambassador since March 2007. Mr Borrowman is expected to take up his appointment shortly.
Australia and Sweden enjoy solid trade and investment links, with total trade in goods and services worth $3.3 billion in 2007-08. Swedish investment in Australia was $3.1 billion in 2007.
We cooperate on issues such as countering nuclear proliferation, human rights, trade liberalisation, the environment and combating terrorism. We share a commitment to the United Nations and to international stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan.
We look forward to working closely with Sweden during its European Union (EU) Presidency (July-December 2009) to deepen our engagement with the EU under the Australia-EU Partnership Framework adopted last year.
Mr Borrowman was most recently First Assistant Secretary, International Division, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), a position he held from 2006 until 2009. Prior to taking up this role, He was Assistant Secretary, Pacific, Regional, Rest of the World and Multilateral Branch, PM&C (2003-06).
Prior to being seconded to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Borrowman held a range of positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade including as Assistant Secretary, Images of Australia Branch (2003); Director Staffing Operations Section (2002-03); and Director, Ministerial and Parliamentary Liaison Section (1997-98).
Mr Borrowman has also served overseas as Counsellor, London (1999-2002) First Secretary later Counsellor, Stockholm (1993-96) and First Secretary, Brussels (1989-93).
Educated at the Australian National University, Mr Borrowman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies and a Graduate Diploma in International Law. He has qualifications in German, Mandarin, French and Swedish languages.
Media inquiries:
Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555