Ambassador to Belgium
Today I announce the appointment of Ms Caroline Millar as Australia’s next Ambassador to Belgium. Ms Millar will also be accredited to the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and Luxembourg.
Australia has warm relationships with Belgium, the EU, NATO and Luxembourg, founded on a shared commitment to democracy, human rights and the global rules-based order.
Australia’s close people-to-people links with Belgium build on the legacy of those Australians who fought and died in Flanders fields during the First World War. We advance common goals on peace and security issues and enjoy productive economic links.
Australia and the EU cooperate closely on a broad range of international issues. We work together in the Indo-Pacific to promote an open, inclusive and resilient region. The EU is Australia’s second largest two-way trading partner and second largest source of foreign investment. Australia is committed to concluding a comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU.
Luxembourg is an important partner for Australia on multilateral issues. We welcome Luxembourg’s investment in Australia and ongoing negotiations on a bilateral tax treaty.
As an Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Australia’s cooperation with NATO demonstrates a shared commitment to work together in an increasingly complex and contested security environment, including in the Indo-Pacific. This is demonstrated through regular political dialogues, military-to-military cooperation and information exchanges.
Ms Millar is a senior career officer with DFAT and was most recently Deputy Secretary National Security and International Policy, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Quad Sherpa. She has served overseas as Chargé d’Affaires in Brussels; Deputy Head of Mission in Washington; and Ambassador and Permanent Representative and Ambassador for Disarmament at the United Nations, Geneva.
In DFAT, Ms Millar was appointed Deputy Secretary International Security, Humanitarian and Consular Group; spearheaded Australia’s successful election campaign to the United Nations Security Council in 2012 and served in a number of senior multilateral, legal and international security positions including as Ambassador for People Smuggling.
Ms Millar holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Cambridge University.
I thank former Ambassador Justin Brown PSM for his contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Belgium since 2018.