List of ambassadors of Australia to Belgium explained

Post:Ambassador to Belgium
Ambassador to the European Union
Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Insignia:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Department:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent:Caroline Millar
Incumbentsince:November 2021
Seat:Avenue Des Arts 56, Brussels
Reports To:Minister for Foreign Affairs
Nominator:Prime Minister of Australia
Style:Her Excellency
Appointer:Governor General of Australia
Formation:1 May 1959
Inaugural:Edwin McCarthy (resident in the Hague)
James Cumes (Chargé d'affaires)
Website:Australian Embassy

The ambassador of Australia to Belgium is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Kingdom of Belgium in Brussels. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation for Luxembourg (since 1970). The ambassador also acts as Australia's ambassador to the European Union (EU), since 1962, and ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 2012. The current ambassador is Caroline Millar since November 2021.

Posting history

Belgium and Australia have enjoyed official diplomatic relations since 1 May 1959 when Australia appointed Edwin McCarthy, ambassador to the Netherlands in The Hague, as the non-resident ambassador to Belgium.[1] McCarthy also served as Australia's first ambassador to the European Communities, when he was appointed in March 1962, just before he left his post in the Netherlands and Belgium, until he retired in 1964.[2] [3] When McCarthy retired, Ralph Harry succeeded him as both ambassador to Belgium and the European Communities (became the EU in 1993).[4]

On 18 September 1970, the governments of Australia and Luxembourg announced the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassador level, with ambassador Owen Davis receiving dual accreditation while resident in Brussels.[5]

Australia has been involved on an official level (as a 'global partner') with NATO since 2005 and the first Australian ambassador to NATO was Brendan Nelson, appointed on 20 January 2012 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between NATO and Australia.[6]

List of ambassadors

Officeholder Image Other offices Residency Term start Term end Time in office Notes
The Hague, Netherlandsalign=center align=center lign=right [7] [8] [9]
align=center align=center align=right [10] [11]
– (Chargé d'affaires)Brussels, Belgiumalign=center align=center align=right [12]
align=center align=center align=right [13]
Owen Davisalign=center align=center align=right [14] [15] [16]
–Bruce Woodberry (Chargé d'affaires)align=center align=center align=right
align=center align=center align=right years[17]
align=center align=center align=right [18] [19]
align=center align=center align=right [20] [21] [22]
align=center align=center align=right [23] [24]
align=center align=center align=right [25] [26]
align=center align=center align=right [27] [28]
align=center align=center align=right [29] [30]
align=center align=center align=right [31]
Donald Kenyonalign=center align=center align=right [32]
align=center align=center align=right [33]
Peter Greyalign=center align=center align=right [34]
Alan Thomasalign=center align=center align=right [35]
align=center align=center align=right [36] [37]
align=center align=center align=right [38]
align=center align=center align=right [39]
align=center align=center align=right [40] [41]
–Trudy Witbreuk (Chargé d'affaires)align=center align=center align=right [42]
align=center align=center incumbentalign=right [43] [44]

Ambassador to the European Communities

Officeholder Image Term start Term end Time in office Notes
align=center align=center align=right [45] [46]
Subsequent appointments concurrently held by the Ambassador to Belgium

Notes

Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the European Union, formerly the European Economic Community, 17 March 1964-present.

Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 20 January 2012-present.

Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ????-present.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Diplomatic Status To Be Increased. . . 2 May 1959 . 17 May 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: MCCARTHY GIVEN NEW POST. . . 25 October 1962 . 17 May 2015 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Sir Edwin McCarthy Retires Today. . . 17 March 1964 . 17 May 2015 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  4. Web site: Celebrating 50 years: EU–Australia – Australian Ambassadors to the EU. https://web.archive.org/web/20150505013621/http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/australia/documents/more_info/eu-austfinal.pdf. 5 May 2015. Australia-EU Diplomatic Relations. European Union.
  5. Diplomatic Appointments – Luxembourg . Current Notes on International Affairs . September 1970 . 41 . 9 . 493 . 4 July 2022.
  6. Web site: Appointment of Australian Ambassador to NATO. Minister for Foreign Affairs – The Hon Kevin Rudd MP. DFAT. 18 May 2015. Media Release. 20 January 2012.
  7. Australian-Belgian Diplomatic Relations . Current Notes on International Affairs . May 1959 . 30 . 5 . 265 . 4 July 2022.
  8. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . May 1959 . 33 . 3 . 56 . 4 July 2022.
  9. Ambassador to the European Communities from 1962 to 1964.
  10. News: NEW ENVOY TO BELGIUM. . . 14 June 1962 . 17 May 2015 . 20 . National Library of Australia.
  11. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . January 1962 . 33 . 1 . 56 . 4 July 2022.
  12. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . September 1961 . 32 . 9 . 58 . 4 July 2022.
  13. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . January 1965 . 36 . 1 . 58 . 4 July 2022.
  14. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . January 1969 . 40 . 1 . 33 . 4 July 2022.
  15. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . February 1969 . 40 . 2 . 73 . 4 July 2022.
  16. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . January 1972 . 43 . 1 . 26 . 4 July 2022.
  17. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . November 1971 . 42 . 11 . 655 . 4 July 2022.
  18. News: Four new envoys. 9 November 1974. 8. The Canberra Times.
  19. Representation – Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . February 1975 . 46 . 2 . 100 . 4 July 2022.
  20. News: Ambassadors appointed. 27 August 1977. 7. The Canberra Times.
  21. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . October 1977 . 48 . 10 . 548 . 4 July 2022.
  22. Diplomatic Appointments. Ian. Sinclair. Australian Government. 26 August 1977.
  23. Diplomatic Appointments. Andrew. Peacock. Australian Government. 27 March 1980.
  24. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . May 1980 . 51 . 5 . 4 July 2022.
  25. Ambassador to EC, Belgium and Luxembourg . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . February 1983 . 53 . 10 . 628 . 4 July 2022.
  26. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . February 1983 . 54 . 2 . 84 . 4 July 2022.
  27. News: Hayden names 7 envoys. The Canberra Times. 3. 25 August 1987.
  28. Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Communities . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . August 1987 . 58 . 8 . 4 July 2022.
  29. Diplomatic Appointment – European Community and Belgium. Gareth. Evans. Australian Government. 31 May 1991.
  30. News: Sadleir to head ASIO. 7 March 1992. 3. The Canberra Times.
  31. Diplomatic appointment - EC and Belgium. Gareth. Evans. Australian Government. 30 June 1992.
  32. Diplomatic Appointment: Brussels. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212031646/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1996/fa134.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 26 November 1996.
  33. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Belgium. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212023607/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2000/fa031_2000.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 26 April 2000.
  34. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities, Belgium and Luxembourg. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212015236/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2003/fa124_03.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 9 October 2003.
  35. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities and Belgium. https://web.archive.org/web/20150412070030/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa140_06.html. 12 April 2015. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 18 December 2006.
  36. Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities, Belgium and Luxembourg, Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Special Representative to the World Health Organization. https://web.archive.org/web/20150403201832/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s090917b.html. 3 April 2015. 17 September 2009. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). Australian Government.
  37. News: Beazley, Nelson appointed to key diplomatic posts. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 September 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20150502011548/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2009/s2689290.htm. 2 May 2015.
  38. Diplomatic Appointment and Appointment of Secretaries of the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. https://web.archive.org/web/20141220082849/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18795. 20 December 2014. 17 September 2012. Julia. Gillard. Julia Gillard. Australian Government.
  39. Appointment of new Director-General of Security and nomination of new Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO. https://web.archive.org/web/20150317092902/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2014/jb_mr_140515a.aspx. 17 March 2015. Julie. Bishop. George. Brandis. Australian Government. 15 May 2014. Julie Bishop.
  40. Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the EU and NATO. Julie. Bishop. Australian Government. 6 February 2018.
  41. Web site: Workman. Alice. 2021-02-16. DPS departures. 2021-05-11. The Australian.
  42. Web site: About the Australian Embassy and Mission to the European Union and NATO . Australian Embassy Belgium, Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union and NATO . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . 4 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210303022711/https://belgium.embassy.gov.au/bsls/aboutus.html . 3 March 2021.
  43. Web site: Aston . Joe . 2021-09-29 . Caroline Millar to be Australia's next Ambassador to the EU . 2022-06-26 . Australian Financial Review . en.
  44. Ambassador to Belgium. Marise. Payne. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. 19 October 2021.
  45. Australian Accreditation to the European Economic Community . Current Notes on International Affairs . May 1960 . 31 . 5 . 229 . 4 July 2022.
  46. Sir Edwin McCarthy . Current Notes on International Affairs . March 1964 . 35 . 3 . 45–46 . 4 July 2022.

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