Today I announce the appointment of Ms Elizabeth Day as Australia's new Ambassador to Switzerland. She will also be accredited to Liechtenstein.
Ms Day will be the first Ambassador to serve in our newly established Embassy in Bern.
The opening of an Australian Embassy in Bern is a significant milestone in our bilateral relationship with Switzerland - it is testament to our enduring relationship and close cooperation for over 60 years.
Australia's new Ambassador will work to elevate the bilateral relationships with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and progress our cooperation on strategic, economic, security and consular issues.
Expanding business links with Switzerland will help grow Australia's economy and lift our research and innovation sectors.
In 2021, Switzerland was Australia's 19th largest two-way trading partner and Australia's 11th largest source of investment, with the total stock of Swiss investment in Australia being valued at $69.2 billion; a figure which has continued to rise in recent years.
Ms Day is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently State Director, DFAT South Australian Office.
She has previously served overseas in Paris, Dili and Vienna.
I thank our Ambassador to Germany, Philip Green OAM, who has advanced Australia's interests in Switzerland and Liechtenstein since 2020 as non-resident Ambassador.
Ambassador Green will remain Australia's Ambassador to Germany.
