Today I announce the appointment of the Hon Nicholas Greiner AC as Australia's next Consul-General in New York.
New York is a globally significant business, financial and cultural centre. It is often the launching pad for Australian businesses and entrepreneurs breaking into the US market, and the headquarters for many companies who invest in Australia.
Our Consul‑General engages with business leaders in New York and the USA's Northeast states to promote Australia's strengths as a natural trade and investment partner. The Consul-General also promotes Australia's innovative and world class creative industries, education and the arts.
The United States is Australia's largest two-way investment partner and second-largest trading partner in goods and services. Two-way trade has grown from $42 billion in 2005 - when the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement came into force - to $81 billion in 2019-20. Two-way investment has nearly tripled since 2005, to $1.82 trillion in 2019.
Mr Greiner has extensive and diverse experience, most recently serving as the Federal President of the Liberal Party of Australia. He has previously held senior roles in the private and public sectors, including as chairman of a number of leading Australian companies and as the Premier of New South Wales and Leader of the Opposition for the New South Wales State Government.
Mr Greiner holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Sydney.
I thank former Consul-General Alastair Walton for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in New York since 2017.
