List of Australian special interests Ambassadors and Envoys explained

Australian special interests Ambassadors and Envoys are specially-appointed officers of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to represent the interests of the Commonwealth of Australia abroad on a larger scale (such as by continent) or through representing the Commonwealth's approach to various international issues. While the special interest Ambassadors-at-Large are appointed in the same manner as would a normal Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, they are not credentialed to any state and thus have no treaty-making powers. Special Envoys are typically appointed by the Prime Minister of Australia.

Special interests ambassadors

Ambassadors for Counter-Terrorism

Officeholder Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center align=right [1]
align=center Les Luck align=right [2]
align=center Mike Smith align=right [3]
align=center align=right [4]
align=center Bill Fisher align=right [5]
align=center Miles Armitage align=right [6]
align=center Paul Foley align=right [7]
align=center align=right [8]
align=center Incumbent align=right [9]

Ambassadors for the Environment

Officeholder Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center align=right years
align=center align=right years
align=center Howard Bamsey align=right [10]
align=center Meg McDonald align=right [11]
align=center Ralph Hillman align=right [12]
align=center Christopher Langman align=right [13]
align=center align=right [14]
align=center align=right years [15]
Role merged with the Ambassador for Climate Change
align=center align=right [16]
align=center Patrick Suckling align=right [17]
align=center Jamie Isbister Incumbent align=right [18]

Ambassadors for Climate Change

Officeholder Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center align=right years
align=center align=right [19]
align=center align=right [20]
Role merged with the Ambassador for the Environment
align=center Incumbent align=right [21]

Ambassadors for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology

Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
Tobias Feakin Ambassador for Cyber Affairs [22] [23]
Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Incumbent

Ambassadors for Regional Health Security

Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center Murray ProctorAmbassador for HIV/AIDS align=right
align=center James GillingAmbassador for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria align=right [24]
align=center Blair ExellAmbassador for Regional Health Security align=right [25]
align=center Stephanie Williams Incumbent align=right [26]

Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking

Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center John Buckley Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues align=right [27]
align=center align=right [28]
align=center align=right [29]
align=center align=right [30]
align=center align=right [31]
align=center James Larsenalign=right
align=center Craig Chittick align=right [32]
align=center Andrew Goledzinowski align=right [33]
align=center Geoffrey Shaw Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking align=right [34]
align=center Lucienne Manton Incumbent align=right [35]

Ambassadors for Gender Equality

Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center Ambassador for Women and Girls align=right [36]
align=center align=right [37]
align=center align=right [38]
align=center Ambassador for Gender Equality align=right [39]
align=center Christine Clarke Ambassador for Women and Girls align=right [40]
align=center Stephanie Copus-CampbellAmbassador for Gender Equality Incumbent align=right [41] [42]

Ambassadors for Human Rights

Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center Special Envoy for Human Rights [43]
Post abolished
align=center Ambassador for Human Rights TBDIncoming [44]

Special Envoys

Parliamentarians

Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef

Officeholder Party Term start date Term end date Time in office Ref
align=center MP align=right
align=center Senator Incumbent align=right [50]

Special Envoy for Indigenous Affairs

Officeholder Party Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Ref
align=center MP Special Envoy for Indigenous Affairs align=right [51]
align=center Senator align=right

Special Envoy for Northern Australia

Officeholder Party Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Ref
align=center Senator Special Envoy for Northern Australia align=right [52]
align=center MP Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia Incumbent align=right

Special Envoy for Trade

Others

Diplomatic

Special Envoy to Africa
Officeholder Term start date Term end date Time in office Ref
align=center align=right years [54]
align=center align=right years [55]
align=center [56] [57]
Special Envoy to Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus
Officeholder Title Term start date Term end date Time in office Ref
align=center Special Envoy to Yugoslavia [60]
align=center Special Envoy to Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus align=right years [61]
align=center Special Envoy to Ukraine [62] [63]
Special Envoy to Sri Lanka

Issues

Special Envoy on Whale Conservation

See also

Notes and References

  1. Downer. Alexander. Alexander Downer. Appointment: Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 20 March 2003.
  2. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 14 August 2003.
  3. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 20 July 2006.
  4. Smith. Stephen. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 5 September 2008.
  5. Carr. Bob. Bob Carr. Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 14 March 2013.
  6. Bishop. Julie. Julie Bishop. Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 18 May 2014.
  7. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. Australian Government. 21 July 2016.
  8. Payne. Marise . Marise Payne . 2021-02-18 . Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism . 2021-03-11 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism . 2024-01-02. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . dmy-all .
  10. Evans. Gareth. Gareth Evans (politician). Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Geneva UN, Ambassador for the Environment. Australian Government. 27 July 1995.
  11. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador for the Environment. Australian Government. 27 September 1997.
  12. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador For The Environment. Australian Government. 18 November 1998.
  13. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador For The Environment. Australian Government. 15 March 2002.
  14. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador For The Environment. https://web.archive.org/web/20170404220029/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2004/fa019_04.html. 4 April 2017. Australian Government. 6 February 2004.
  15. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador For The Environment. Australian Government. 10 December 2004. 17 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201744/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2004/fa171_04.html. 4 March 2016. dead.
  16. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Ambassador for the Environment. Australian Government. 1 November 2014.
  17. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Ambassador for the Environment. Australian Government. 29 February 2016.
  18. Payne. Marise . Marise Payne . 18 November 2019. Ambassador to the Environment. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202060535/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/ambassador-environment. Australian Government. 2020-12-02. 2021-03-09.
  19. Smith. Stephen . Stephen Smith (Australian politician) . Wong. Penny. Penny Wong. New Ambassador for climate change. Australian Government. 9 February 2009.
  20. Carr . Bob . Bob Carr . Combet . Greg . Greg Combet . New Ambassador for Climate Change . Australian Government . 13 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150404013218/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/bc_mr_120513.html . 4 April 2015 .
  21. New Ambassador for Climate Change . 26 December 2022 . Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109000745/https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/new-ambassador-for-climate-change . 9 November 2022 .
  22. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Tehan. Dan . Dan Tehan . Ambassador for Cyber Affairs. Minister for Foreign Affairs. Australian Government. 31 May 2017 . 10 November 2016.
  23. News: Brookes . Joseph . Govt hunts cyber ambassador replacement . 3 January 2023 . InnovationAus.com . 16 November 2022.
  24. Carr . Bob . Bob Carr . Incoming Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria . Australian Government . 13 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150404013218/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/bc_mr_120513.html . 4 April 2015 .
  25. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Ambassador for Regional Health Security. Australian Government . 13 June 2017.
  26. Payne, Marise . Marise Payne . 2020-03-03 . Ambassador for Regional Health Security . 2021-03-11. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . dmy-all .
  27. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 28 February 2002.
  28. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador For People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 30 July 2003.
  29. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador For People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 19 December 2005.
  30. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 29 December 2006.
  31. Smith. Stephen . Stephen Smith (Australian politician) . Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 8 June 2009.
  32. Carr. Bob . Bob Carr . New Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 27 May 2012.
  33. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Morrison. Scott. Scott Morrison . Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues. Australian Government. 24 November 2014.
  34. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking. Australian Government. 19 October 2017.
  35. Payne, Marise . Marise Payne . 2020-05-22 . Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking . 2021-03-11 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . dmy-all .
  36. Gillard. Julia. Julia Gillard. Rudd. Kevin. Kevin Rudd. Ellis. Kate. Kate Ellis (politician). Australia appoints Global Ambassador for Women and Girls. Australian Government. 13 September 2011.
  37. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Cash. Michaelia . Michaelia Cash. Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls. Australian Government. 16 December 2013.
  38. Bishop. Julie. Cash. Michaelia . Julie Bishop . Michaelia Cash. Ambassador for Women and Girls. Australian Government. 21 November 2016.
  39. Payne. Marise . Marise Payne . 2020-03-08. Ambassador of Australia for Gender Equality. 2021-03-11 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . dmy-all .
  40. Payne . Marise . Marise Payne . Ambassador of Australia for Women and Girls . 26 December 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . 31 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220203150501/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/ambassador-australia-women-and-girls . 3 February 2022 .
  41. Wong . Penny . Penny Wong . Ambassador for Gender Equality . 26 December 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . 20 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221220010849/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/ambassador-gender-equality . 20 December 2022 .
  42. Albanese . Anthony . Wong . Penny . Anthony Albanese . Penny Wong . Appointment of Australian Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Consul-General . 26 December 2022 . Australian Government . 20 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226142746/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/appointment-australian-ambassadors-high-commissioners-and-consul-general . 26 December 2022 .
  43. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop . Special Envoy for Human Rights. 5 August 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240805103333/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/julie-bishop/media-release/special-envoy-human-rights. Minister for Foreign Affairs. 8 February 2016.
  44. Wong . Penny . Penny Wong . Ambassador for Human Rights . 26 December 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Australian Government . 20 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221040444/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/ambassador-human-rights . live . 21 December 2022 .
  45. Web site: Statement: Special Envoy for the Arts. Templeman. Susan. Sydney. Susan Templeman. 1 June 2022. 25 July 2024.
  46. Web site: Hon Philip Ruddock AO. Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 26 July 2024.
  47. Ministerial arrangements. Albanese. Anthony. Anthony Albanese. Australian Government. Canberra. 28 July 2024. 28 July 2024.
  48. Web site: Senator Tony Sheldon. Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 25 July 2024.
  49. Web site: About Barnaby. Joyce. Barnaby. Tamworth, New South Wales. Barnaby Joyce. 26 July 2024.
  50. Web site: 31 May 2022 . Gilmore; majority government; Ministry list, representation of women; gas prices; energy prices; cost of living; Julian Assange; policy agenda . 2024-05-02 . www.pm.gov.au.
  51. Web site: Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Government representative and advisory bodies: a quick guide. Haughton. James. Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 25 July 2024.
  52. Web site: Senator Susan McDonald. Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 25 July 2024.
  53. Appointment as Minister for Trade and Investment. Ciobo. Steven. Steven Ciobo. Australian Government. Canberra. 18 February 2016. 27 July 2024.
  54. Downer. Alexander . Alexander Downer . Appointment of Mr Malcolm Fraser As Special Envoy to Africa. Australian Government. 28 June 1996.
  55. Rudd. Kevin . Kevin Rudd . Appointment of Special Envoys. Australian Government. 12 October 2010.
  56. Commonwealth of Australia. House of Representatives. 30 October 2012. Statements on Indulgence: Australia's Seat on the United Nations Security Council. Marles, Richard. Richard Marles. Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 12701–12706.
  57. News: Australia leading global charge on mining returns. ABC News. Sydney. Correy. Stan. 4 August 2012. 30 July 2024.
  58. Web site: Tim Fischer. International Speakers Group. Melbourne. 30 July 2024.
  59. Assistant Treasurer holds important bilateral talks with key Uzbekistan Ministers. Sherry. Nick. Nick Sherry. Australian Government. Canberra. 30 April 2010. 30 July 2024.
  60. Web site: John Howard: timeline. National Archives of Australia. Canberra. 26 July 2024.
  61. Rudd. Kevin . Kevin Rudd . Appointment of UNSC Special Envoy. Australian Government. Canberra. 31 July 2011.
  62. Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston to lead Australia's response to MH17 investigation and recovery efforts. Abbott. Tony. Tony Abbott. Australian Government. Canberra. 21 July 2014. 21 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121645/http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-07-21/air-chief-marshal-angus-houston-lead-australias-response-mh17-investigation-and. 2 April 2015.
  63. News: Tony Abbott and Angus Houston discussed possibility of sending troops to Ukraine in wake of MH17 disaster. ABC News. Sydney. Willacy. Mark. Mark Willacy. 29 January 2024. 30 July 2024.
  64. Australian Government response to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade report: Inquiry into Australia's trade and investment relations with Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. Australian Government. Canberra. December 2012. 30 July 2024.
  65. Bishop. Julie . Julie Bishop. Re-appointment of Special Envoy to the OIC. Australian Government. 3 September 2015.
  66. Rudd. Kevin . Kevin Rudd . Special Envoy to the OIC. Australian Government. 29 June 2011.
  67. High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji and Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs. Wong. Penny. Penny Wong. Conroy. Pat. Pat Conroy (politician). Australian Government. Canberra. 3 July 2023. 29 July 2024.
  68. Special Envoy For Southeast Asia. Albanese. Anthony. Anthony Albanese. Wong. Penny. Penny Wong. Farrell. Don. Don Farrell. Australian Government. Canberra. 12 November 2022. 30 July 2024.
  69. News: Search in dark for boat people. Nicholson. Brendan. Narushima. Yuko. Probyn. Andrew. Andrew Probyn. Brisbane Times. 3 November 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20240730012452/https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/search-in-dark-for-boat-people-20091103-htqg.html. 30 July 2024. 30 July 2024.
  70. Special envoy to combat Antisemitism. Albanese. Anthony. Anthony Albanese. Giles. Andrew. Andrew Giles. Australian Government. Canberra. 9 July 2024. 24 July 2024.
  71. Special envoy to combat Islamophobia. Albanese. Anthony. Anthony Albanese. Burke. Tony. Tony Burke. Australian Government. Canberra. 30 September 2024. 24 November 2024.
  72. Web site: Question taken on notice: Supplementary Budget Estimates – 20 October 2014: Immigration and Border Protection portfolio: (SE14/162): Programme – Operation Sovereign Borders. Parliament of Australia. Canberra. 20 October 2014. 26 July 2024.
  73. News: Sandy Hollway to be first whaling envoy . The Sydney Morning Herald . 2 May 2008 . live . 29 January 2017 . 29 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170129115317/http://www.smh.com.au/national/sandy-hollway-to-be-first-whaling-envoy-20080501-2a4j.html .

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