High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago

Today I announce the appointment of Mr Bruce Lendon as Australia's next High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago. Mr Lendon will also be accredited to Dominica, Guyana, Haiti, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Australia has a long history of working in partnership with the countries of the Caribbean to advance the interests of small island states. Commonwealth ties, sporting and people-to-people links underpin our relationships, especially a shared love of cricket.

Australia's economic interests in the Caribbean continue to diversify. Australia's merchandise trade with the region was $104 million in 2017-18. Trinidad and Tobago is Australia's largest investment partner in the region, in the transport, tourism, oil and gas sectors. Two-way trade with Trinidad and Tobago in 2017-18 was $37 million.

Mr Lendon is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission in Cairo; as well as postings in Port Moresby and Tel Aviv. In Canberra Mr Lendon worked on a range of issues, including Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, the Pacific, Southeast Asia and Africa.

Mr Lendon holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Queensland.

I thank outgoing High Commissioner John Pilbeam for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Trinidad and Tobago and the broader Caribbean since 2016.