Today I announce the appointment of Ms Julia Niblett as Australia's next Ambassador to Ethiopia, with concurrent responsibility for Australia's relations with the African Union and non-resident accreditation to Central African Republic, Djibouti, and South Sudan.
Ethiopia and Australia share a longstanding bilateral relationship, based on our substantial people-to-people links, including a vibrant Ethiopian diaspora in Australia.
Australia has strong commercial interests in Ethiopia with Australian businesses engaged in the renewable energy, mining and agricultural sectors. Australian NGOs continue to make a valuable contribution to community-level development, including in the areas of disability, health, environment and food security.
Australia is concerned by the current situation in Ethiopia, and supports all efforts towards a stable, peaceful and unified country.
Australia has supported South Sudan since its independence in 2011 and Australian troops contribute to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
Ms Niblett is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and worked most recently as the Director, NSW State Office of DFAT. She has previously served overseas as Australia's High Commissioner to Bangladesh and served also in Bangkok, Paris and Manila.
Ms Niblett holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney; and a Graduate Diploma of International Law from the Australian National University.
I thank former Ambassador Peter Doyle for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Ethiopia since 2018 and Chargé d'Affaires Jenny Da Rin for her contribution in 2021.
