Ambassador to Indonesia

Today I announce the appointment of Mr Gary Quinlan AO as Australia's next Ambassador to Indonesia.

Australia's relationship with Indonesia is one of our most important partnerships. It is underpinned by an extensive framework of strategic, security, economic and people-to-people ties. Together we contribute to regional and global forums, manage the longest maritime boundary in the world, and combat terrorism and transnational crime.

Our two-way trade reached $16.4 billion in 2016-17, and we are prioritising the finalisation of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to enhance economic opportunities.

Education links will remain a critical element of the bilateral relationship into the future. Approximately 18,000 Indonesians currently study in Australia including, 1,000 under the Australia Awards Scholarships program. During the first five years of the New Colombo Plan, 5,300 Australians will study and undertake work placements in Indonesia.

Mr Quinlan is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently Deputy Secretary, and Australia's Senior Official to ASEAN and to the East Asia Summit. He was Australia's chief negotiator with Timor-Leste on maritime boundaries. He has served as Principal Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security, and has held senior positions in DFAT responsible for North Asia, the Americas and Europe. He has previously served overseas as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York; Australia's Representative on, and President of, the United Nations Security Council; Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Washington; and High Commissioner to Singapore.

Mr Quinlan Holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Newcastle.

I thank outgoing Ambassador Paul Grigson for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Indonesia since 2015.