Australian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago

Last updated

Australian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Incumbent
Sonya Koppe
since 16 March 2023 (2023-03-16)
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.

Contents

Posting history

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]

List of high commissioners

#OfficeholderResidencyTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
1 James Ingram Ottawa, Canada 197419740 years [3]
2 John Hoyle Kingston, Jamaica 197519771–2 years
3Brian Hickey197819790–1 years
4 Gordon Bilney 198019810–1 years [4]
5R. E. Little198219841–2 years
6Michael Landale198519871–2 years
7Ian Wille198819890–1 years [5]
8Peter Rogers199019943–4 years
9Bob Whitty Bridgetown, Barbados 199419983–4 years [6]
10Paul Smith199820012–3 years [7]
11 Winfred Peppinck 200120042–3 years [8]
12John Michell Port of Spain 200420072–3 years [9]
13Philip Kentwell200720135–6 years [10]
14Ross Tysoe201320162–3 years [11]
15John Pilbeam201620192–3 years [12]
16Bruce Lendon201920234 years [13] [14]
17Sonya KoppeMarch 16, 2023incumbent534 days

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia–Barbados relations</span> Bilateral relations

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consulate General of Australia, Hong Kong</span> Consular representation of Australia in the Peoples Republic of China

The Australian Consulate General Hong Kong 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.

References

  1. ↑ CA 9395:Australian High Commission, Trinidad and Tobago [Port of Spain], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 January 2016
  2. ↑ Downer, Alexander (18 July 2003). "Australia's Overseas Diplomatic Network Enhanced" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Australia names two new envoys". The Canberra Times. ACT. 8 January 1974. p. 6 – via Trove, National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Minister announces Jamaica posting". The Canberra Times. ACT. 19 December 1979. p. 17.
  5. ↑ "Hayden announces envoy for Jamaica". The Canberra Times. ACT. 6 October 1987. p. 3.
  6. ↑ "Whitty given job in the West Indies". The Canberra Times. ACT. 3 November 1993. p. 4.
  7. ↑ Downer, Alexander (10 February 1998). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Barbados" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Downer, Alexander (22 January 2001). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Barbados" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Downer, Alexander (10 April 2004). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015.
  10. ↑ Downer, Alexander (5 June 2007). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Carr, Bob (13 November 2012). "High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Bishop, Julie (4 December 2015). "High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015.
  13. ↑ Payne, Marise (19 July 2019). "High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago". Minister for Foreign Affairs (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS: HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA". The Office of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
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