Ambassador to Germany

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Natasha Smith as Australia's next Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Australia and Germany are strategic partners with a shared commitment to the rules-based international order.

Our countries work closely together on a wide range of shared regional and global interests, including security and defence, strengthening the multilateral system, climate change and the green transition.

Germany is Australia's tenth largest trading partner, with strong investment and growing collaboration on hydrogen and critical minerals.

Ms Smith is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Policy, First Nations and Human Rights Division.

She has previously served overseas as High Commissioner to Canada, as well as previous postings to the United Nations in New York and in Indonesia.

I thank former Ambassador Philip Green OAM for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Germany since 2020.