Jane Hardy Explained

Jane Hardy is an Australian diplomat who was the Ambassador to Spain with non-resident accreditation to Andorra and Equatorial Guinea.^{[1] [2]} Hardy has been Consul-General in Honolulu^[3] since December 22, 2017.

Education

Hardy earned a Masters of Arts degree from Monash University; a Graduate Diploma (Foreign Affairs and Trade) from the Australian National University; a Bachelor of Arts from Flinders University; and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of South Australia.

Termination of Ambassadorship to Spain

Less than two years into a three-year term, Hardy "ceased duty" on November 3, 2014, and "returned by mutual agreement with the department" after the Australian Federal Police arrested her husband Vytas Kapociunas, on September 20, 2014, over "an allegation of sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia.",^[4]

In 2015, Kapociunas was found not guilty on two charges and on the third charge, the jury was unable to reach a verdict.^[5]

References

1. Ambassador to Spain. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403143319/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/bc_mr_120906.html. 3 April 2015. Bob. Carr. Bob Carr. 6 September 2012.
2. News: Dorling . Philip . Knaus . Christopher . Australian diplomat returned from posting after husband charged over child-sex allegations . 4 March 2021 . The Sydney Morning Herald . January 14, 2015.
3. Web site: Consul-General in the United States of America, Honolulu . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Government of Australia . 4 March 2021.
4. News: Australian ambassador to Spain resigns over charges of husband's sex abuse . 4 March 2021 . The San Diego Union-Tribune . January 15, 2015.
5. News: Raggatt . Matthew . Former ambassador's husband cleared of child-sex charges . 4 March 2021 . The Canberra Times . December 19, 2015.