Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Today I announce the appointment of Mr James Larsen as Australia's next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York.

The UN is the forum where the world has agreed to come together to solve our biggest problems.

As a founding member of the UN, Australia remains committed to working with member states to ensure it continues to play a central role in maintaining international peace and security, and addressing global issues such as climate change, sustainable development, human rights and gender equality.

Australia seeks a world that is peaceful and predictable, that is governed by accepted rules and norms and where all countries and peoples can cooperate, trade and thrive.

Mr Larsen is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has previously served overseas as Ambassador to Türkiye and Ambassador to Israel, with previous postings in Belgium and Thailand. He served most recently as a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

I thank outgoing Ambassador and Permanent Representative The Hon Mitch Fifield for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests at the UN in New York since 2019.