Appointment of High Commissioners and Ambassadors

Today I announce the appointments of eight highly qualified individuals to lead Australia’s posts in Rarotonga, Suva, the Holy See, Wellington, Koror, Port Moresby, as well as Australia’s engagement with the UN in Geneva and our international work on counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism.

I am pleased to confirm the following appointments:

• Ms Susannah Hodson as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands.
• Mr Peter Roberts OAM as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji.
• The Hon Keith Pitt as Australia’s Ambassador to the Holy See.
• Mr Daniel Sloper PSM as Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand.
• Mr Toby Sharpe as Australia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Palau.
• Mr Ewen McDonald as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
• Ms Clare Walsh as Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
• Ms Gemma Huggins as Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism.

Australia is investing in all arms of national power to advance Australian interests and values in our region and the world – to keep Australians safe, to ensure our economic strength – and today’s appointments will bolster these efforts.

I thank the outgoing ambassadors and high commissioners for their important contributions.