Ambassador to Sweden

Today I announce the appointment of Mr Jonathan Kenna as Australia's next Ambassador to Sweden. Mr Kenna will also have non-resident accreditation to Estonia, Finland and Latvia.

Australia enjoys friendly and constructive relationships with Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia. We cooperate closely on a range of global issues including international security, disarmament and arms control, human rights and support for the multilateral trading system.

Sweden and Australia share important bilateral and economic links, particularly in trade and education. Our two-way investment was valued at $7 billion in 2014-15. An estimated 34,000 Swedish tourists visit and over 2,000 students study in Australia each year.

Australia's relationship with Finland was further strengthened by high level visits by Finland's Foreign Minister to Australia and by Australia's Governor-General to Finland in February 2016.

Relations between Australia and Estonia are growing, enhanced by the visit of the Estonian Foreign Minister to Australia to open the Embassy of Estonia in February 2016, and the signing of a Social Security Agreement in September 2015.

Mr Kenna is senior officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He has served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission, Bangkok and as Counsellor, Australia's Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organisation, Geneva.

In Canberra, Mr Kenna was most recently Assistant Secretary, India and Indian Sub-Continent Branch. He has also served as Assistant Secretary, Tobacco Plain Packaging Taskforce; and Deputy Chief Negotiator on the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.

Mr Kenna holds a Masters of Law from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney.

I thank outgoing Ambassador Gerald Thomson for his contribution to advancing Australia's interests in Northern Europe since 2013.