Ambassador to Morocco

TodayI announce the appointment of Ms Berenice Owen-Jones as Australia's firstresident Ambassador to Morocco.

Australiaand Morocco enjoy close ties and celebrated the 40th anniversary ofdiplomatic relations in 2016. We share strong people-to-people links, with manythousands of Australians visiting Morocco each year.

Theestablishment of an Australian Embassy in Rabat and appointment of anAmbassador to Morocco is an important addition to Australia's diplomaticpresence in Africa and part of the single largest expansion of our diplomaticnetwork in 40 years.

OurAmbassador to Morocco will lead efforts to enhance bilateral ties and open newareas of cooperation, including expanding trade and investment links in foodand agriculture, infrastructure planning and sustainable development, mining,oil and gas, and health.

Australiavalues Morocco's significant contribution to international efforts to fightglobal terrorism and violent extremism, and we work together as members of theGlobal Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The new Embassy will enhance our ability tocollaborate further on counter-terrorism and security issues.

MsOwen-Jones is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade(DFAT) and was most recently Director of Studies, Diplomatic Academy. InCanberra Ms Owen-Jones has held a range of positions including, Director,Security Policy and Clearances Section. She served overseas with DFAT at theAustralian Embassy in Paris.

MsOwen-Jones holds a Bachelor of Economics, Australian National University andDiploma of International Law, Australian National University. She is expectedto take up her appointment in June 2017.