Ambassador to Argentina

  • Media release

Today Iannounce the appointment of Mr Brett Hackett as Australia's next Ambassador toArgentina with non-resident accreditation to Paraguay and Uruguay.

Australia andArgentina cooperate closely in areas such as agriculture, mining, education andinfrastructure. We work together in multilateral fora such as the Cairns Groupwithin the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Antarctic Treaty system andthrough the United Nations.We are also continuing our engagement withArgentina through the remainder of its hosting of the G20 Presidency thisyear.

Trade andinvestment links between our two countries are strong. In 2017, bilateral tradein goods and services with Argentina was worth nearly $1.3 billion, whileAustralian direct investment in Argentina was $815 million.

Australiaenjoys close and productive relations with Uruguay and Paraguay, with potentialfor growth in sectors such as agriculture, education, science and energy.

Mr Hackett is asenior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)and was most recently Acting First Assistant Secretary, Americas Division,DFAT. He has previously served overseas as Head of Mission, Australian Embassy,Brasilia; Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Kabul; Deputy Head of Mission,Australian High Commission, Islamabad; and First Secretary, Australian HighCommission, Ottawa. In Canberra he has served in DFAT as Assistant Secretary,Canada and Latin America Branch; Assistant Secretary, Services and IntellectualProperty Branch; and Director, Philippines and East Timor Section. Mr Hackettholds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland andspeaks Spanish and Portuguese.

I thankoutgoing Ambassador Noel Campbell for his contributions to advancingAustralia's interests in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay since 2014.

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