Ambassador for the Environment

Today I announce the appointment of Mr Jamie Isbister as Australia’s next Ambassador for the Environment.

Mr Isbister will promote Australia’s interests on international environment issues including our efforts to address climate change as part of a coordinated global effort, cooperation on sustainable oceans management and UNESCO World Heritage. Mr Isbister will also lead Australia’s engagement in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Key priorities for Mr Isbister will be to strengthen international frameworks and cooperation on the effective global implementation of the Paris Agreement in line with our national interests and to promote Australia’s work to meet our international commitments.

Mr Isbister will also lead ongoing efforts to integrate climate change and sustainability into Australia’s official development assistance, including to improve climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific and to enhance climate-related private sector investment in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Mr Isbister is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary, Humanitarian, Non-Government Organisations and Partnerships Division. He has previously served overseas as Minister-Counsellor, Australian High Commission, Pretoria.

Mr Isbister holds a Master of Policy Studies from the University of New South Wales and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales/University of New England.

I thank former Ambassador Patrick Suckling for his contributions to Australia’s engagement on international environment and climate change issues since 2016.