Australia Appoints New Ambassador to Micronesia

The Hon. Alexander Downer, MP
Minister For Foreign Affairs, Australia

Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Micronesia

Ms Susan Cox is to be Australia's new Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Ms Cox will succeed Ms Corinne Tomkinson who has been Ambassador since November 2004. Ms Cox is expected to take up her appointment in September 2007.

Australia's relations with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are warm and friendly. Defence, law enforcement, development cooperation and regional security are important elements of our relationship with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Palau.

Australia's trade and tourism links with Guam continue to expand. Australia and the Micronesian States cooperate through the Pacific Islands Forum to promote economic growth, sustainable development, good governance and security and to advance their interests through sector-specific regional organisations and the UN and its agencies.

Ms Susan Cox is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently Director in the Post Security Task Force. Overseas, Ms Cox has served as Deputy High Commissioner in Port Vila (1998-2001) and as Vice-Consul in Noumea (1990-93). She has also served in Cairo.

In Canberra, Ms Cox has held a range of positions including Executive Officer and later Director, Consular Policy and Crisis Management Section (2003-06), Manager of the Consular Coordination Unit (2002-03), Executive Officer in the Multilateral South Pacific and Resources Section (1995-98) and the Bilateral Pacific and Political Section (1993-95).

Ms Cox was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia for her role in the management of the response to the Bali bombings in October 2002. Ms Cox holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canberra and was awarded a University medal in 1997. Ms Cox speaks French and Bislama .

ENDS

© Scoop Media