Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong. Photo: Facebook.
Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong has announced a new round of Ambassador and High Commissioner appointments to represent Australia in Korea, Malaysia, Ukraine, Moldova and Nauru, and Consul-General appointments to Chicago and Shanghai.
Jeff Robinson will be Australia’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, replacing Ambassador Catherine Raper in the role.
Robinson is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Most recently he was Assistant Secretary AUKUS Non-Proliferation Branch and has previously served as Consul-General in Honolulu and had postings to the Republic of Korea and Japan.
Paul Lehmann has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Ukraine with accreditation to the Republic of Moldova, and will replace Ambassador Bruce Edwards in the role.
Mr Lehmann is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Minister-Counsellor (Governance) at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby. He has also served as High Commissioner to Nigeria, and Minister-Counsellor (Development) at the Australian Embassy in Afghanistan.
There was no mention in the release of Australia potentially re-opening its embassy in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the embassy was relocated to Poland, where it has remained since.
Danielle Heinecke will be Australia’s next High Commissioner to Malaysia, succeeding High Commissioner Justin Lee and acting High Commissioner Simon Fellows in the role.
Ms Heinecke is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary Pacific Melanesia Division. She has previously served in Timor-Leste, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Sara Moriarty has been announced as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Nauru, to replace High Commissioner Dr Helen Cheney in the role.
Ms Moriarty is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Director of First Nations Indo-Pacific and Global Interests, and has also served as High Commissioner to Samoa and has had two postings to Indonesia.
Chris Elstoft will be Australia’s next Consul-General in Chicago, replacing Consul-General Emma Buckham.
Mr Elstoft is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Assistant Secretary Investment Branch. He has previously served overseas in India, Indonesia, Iraq and Papua New Guinea, as well as with the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).
John Williams will be Australia’s next Consul-General in Shanghai, succeeding Consul-General Dominic Trindade in the role.
Mr Williams is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Acting High Commissioner to Fiji. He has previously served as Ambassador to Laos and had postings in Indonesia and Thailand.
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