| Gregory Andrews | |
| Office: | Australian High Commissioner to Ghana and West Africa |
| Primeminister: | Scott Morrison |
| Term Start: | 26 June 2020 |
| Term End: | 25 December 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Andrew Barnes |
| Successor: | Berenice Owen-Jones |
Gregory Andrews is the founder and managing director of Lyrebird Dreaming. He was Australia's first Threatened Species Commissioner, and was the former Australian High Commissioner to Ghana and West Africa.
Gregory Andrews was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and is a Dharawal man of shared Aboriginal and European ancestry.[1]
He holds a Master of Arts (Foreign Affairs and Trade) from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Economics, majoring in econometrics, with First Class Honours from the University of Newcastle.[2]
Andrews joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a graduate in 1992.
In 2014, Andrews was appointed Threatened Species Commissioner, a position created by the incoming Coalition Government. Environment monister Greg Hunt conceded the role lacked statutory powers and would have to liaise with other agencies.[3]
Andrews served as assistant secretary of the International Organisations Branch. He has previously served overseas as first secretary at the Australian Embassy, Beijing. From 2017 to 2019, Andrews was Australia's national focal point for the Responsibility to Protect and represented Australia in United Nations, bilateral and non-government negotiations on atrocity prevention.[4] [5]
In June 2020 Andrews was appointed as Australia's High Commissioner to Ghana to Ghana and West Africa.[2] His appointment was reportedly marred with controversy based on his support for marginalised people such as so called accused witches and Ghana's LGBT community.[6] On 20 December 2021, it is reported that the Australian Government ended Andrews appointment to Ghana, and he returned home.[7] [8]
Andrews served as Australia's deputy chief climate negotiator to the United Nations.[9]
He is the founder and managing director of Lyrebird Dreaming.[10]
On 2 November 2023, Andrews begun a hunger strike on the lawns of Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, protesting the lack of government action on climate change.[11] Andrews was taken to hospital after a 16-day hunger strike, ending the longest hunger strike for climate action by a single person in Australia. His petition received over 4,500 signatures.[12]
On 9 August 2024, Andrews set out on a fundraising trip, intending to cycle across Australia from west to east on an ebike. Donations made online will be earmarked to specific projects which help to provide more renewable energy for people living regional and remote areas.[13]