High Commissioner to Malaysia

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Danielle Heinecke as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Malaysia.

Australia and Malaysia are close partners, grounded in a shared history of friendship, cooperation and deep people-to-people connections.

Under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership we are strengthening economic prosperity, boosting ties in energy and climate change, and deepening our longstanding cooperation on defence and regional security.

Australia and Malaysia share deep economic links. In 2022, Malaysia was Australia’s second largest trading partner in ASEAN and second largest source of foreign investment from ASEAN. We continue to deepen our economic engagement, including in priority areas identified in Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Australia and Malaysia are close defence and security partners, including under the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Malaysia–Australia Joint Defence Program. Australia remains committed to working with Malaysia to support ASEAN’s vital contribution to peace and security.

Ms Heinecke is a senior career officer with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary Pacific Melanesia Division. She has previously served overseas in Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

I thank former High Commissioner Justin Lee and acting High Commissioner Simon Fellows for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Malaysia.