Australian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago | |
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Incumbent Sonya Koppe since 16 March 2023 | |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
Style | Her Excellency |
Reports to | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Seat | Port of Spain |
Nominator | Prime Minister of Australia |
Appointer | Governor General of Australia |
Inaugural holder | James Ingram (Non-resident High Commissioner, located in Ottawa) |
Website |
The Australian high commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the High Commission of the Commonwealth of Australia in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. [1] The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and the high commissioner resides in Port of Spain. The high commissioner, since March 2023, has been Sonya Koppe.
The Australian government established a High Commission in Port of Spain in May 2004 and appointed its first resident High Commissioner, John Michell. Previously, responsibility for Australian diplomatic representation in Trinidad and Tobago was held in Canada (1974); Jamaica (1975–1994); and Barbados (1994–2004). The decision to move Australian Government representation from Barbados to Trinidad and Tobago was part of a review of Australia's diplomatic network completed in July 2003. [2]
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# | Officeholder | Residency | Term start date | Term end date | Time in office | Notes |
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1 | James Ingram | Ottawa, Canada | 1974 | 1974 | 0 years | [3] |
2 | John Hoyle | Kingston, Jamaica | 1975 | 1977 | 1–2 years | |
3 | Brian Hickey | 1978 | 1979 | 0–1 years | ||
4 | Gordon Bilney | 1980 | 1981 | 0–1 years | [4] | |
5 | R. E. Little | 1982 | 1984 | 1–2 years | ||
6 | Michael Landale | 1985 | 1987 | 1–2 years | ||
7 | Ian Wille | 1988 | 1989 | 0–1 years | [5] | |
8 | Peter Rogers | 1990 | 1994 | 3–4 years | ||
9 | Bob Whitty | Bridgetown, Barbados | 1994 | 1998 | 3–4 years | [6] |
10 | Paul Smith | 1998 | 2001 | 2–3 years | [7] | |
11 | Winfred Peppinck | 2001 | 2004 | 2–3 years | [8] | |
12 | John Michell | Port of Spain | 2004 | 2007 | 2–3 years | [9] |
13 | Philip Kentwell | 2007 | 2013 | 5–6 years | [10] | |
14 | Ross Tysoe | 2013 | 2016 | 2–3 years | [11] | |
15 | John Pilbeam | 2016 | 2019 | 2–3 years | [12] | |
16 | Bruce Lendon | 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | [13] [14] | |
17 | Sonya Koppe | March 16, 2023 | incumbent | 167 days |
Foreign relations exist between Australia and Barbados. Neither country has a resident ambassador. The regional Australian High Commissioner to Barbados is accredited from Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. Barbados is represented in Australia through its High Commission in Ottawa, (Canada). Barbados maintains an honorary consul and a tourist office in Australia. Barbados and Australia established diplomatic relations on 7 January 1974. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and comprised as former parts of the British Empire.
The Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong and Macao represents the Commonwealth of Australia in Hong Kong, and is also accredited to Macau. As Hong Kong was linked to the Commonwealth during British administration, Australia's diplomatic presence was exercised by an Australian Commission, until 1 January 1986, when it was renamed the Australian Consulate-General. From 1946 to 1972, Australia was represented by the Australian Trade Commission.