Consul-General in Shanghai

Today I announce Mr Graeme Meehan has been appointed Australia's Consul-General in Shanghai.

Shanghai is one of the largest commercial and financial centres in the Asia-Pacific region. With neighbouring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, Shanghai forms part of the dynamic Yangtze River Delta – a region that accounts for about one third of Australia's total trade with China.

The Consulate-General in Shanghai covers five provinces, in addition to the municipality of Shanghai, with a combined population of over 320 million, offering significant trade and investment opportunities for Australian business. The district is home to a large and growing Australian expatriate community.

Mr Meehan is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is currently Assistant Secretary of the East Asia Branch, a position he has held since January 2013.

Mr Meehan has had extensive experience working on China issues, both in Canberra and overseas. He has served twice at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, most recently as Deputy Head of Mission (2008-2012), and twice at the Australian Office in Taipei. His Canberra assignments have included working as deputy head of the China FTA Task Force (2005-2008) and as Senior Adviser (Asia) in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2005).

Mr Meehan speaks Chinese. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from Melbourne University and has undertaken postgraduate studies at Fudan University in Shanghai and at the Australian National University.

Mr Meehan is expected to take up the appointment in June 2015. I thank outgoing Consul-General Ms Alice Cawte for her work on advancing Australia's interests in east China since October 2011.