Ambassador to Russia

Today I announce the appointment of Mr Graeme Meehan as Australia's next Ambassador to Russia. Mr Meehan will also have non-resident accreditation to the Republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan.

Australia and Russia work together in a number of important international and multilateral fora, including those focused on non-proliferation issues and regional security.

Australia also works constructively with the countries of Central Asia, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova on international issues in a range of multilateral fora.

Mr Meehan is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Head of Post, Consulate-General, Shanghai. He has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Beijing; Deputy Head of Post, Australian Representative Office, Taipei; and Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Beijing.

In Canberra Mr Meehan has served as Assistant Secretary, East Asia Branch; Deputy Head, China Free Trade Agreement Taskforce; and Director, Asia Section, International Division, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Mr Meehan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

I thank outgoing Ambassador Peter Tesch for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Russia since 2016.