High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Nicola Rosenblum as Australia's next High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam.

Brunei Darussalam is an important partner for Australia. We cooperate through regional and international fora including the Commonwealth, APEC, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit.

Australia and Brunei Darussalam have strong trade and defence ties, as well as close education and people-to-people links.

Two-way trade in goods and services between Australia and Brunei Darussalam exceeded $900 million in 2014-15.Australia has a long-standing defence relationship with Brunei Darussalam which includes regular bilateral military exercises.

Australia is the second largest provider of education services to Bruneians studying overseas and 19 Australian students will have studied in Brunei Darussalam under the New Colombo Plan in 2015 and 2016.

Ms Rosenblum is a career officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, most recently serving as Director, Humanitarian Operations Section. She has served overseas as First Secretary, Australian High Commission in Pakistan and Second Secretary at Australia's mission to the United Nations in Vienna.

Ms Rosenblum holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government (Honours) from Griffith University and a Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Leadership from Deakin University.

I thank outgoing High Commissioner Todd Mercer for his contribution since 2012 to advancing Australia's interests in Brunei Darussalam.