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List of ambassadors of Australia to Belgium

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Ambassador to Belgium
Ambassador to the European Union
Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
since November 2021
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHer Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
SeatAvenue Des Arts 56, Brussels
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderEdwin McCarthy (resident in the Hague)
James Cumes (Chargé d'affaires)
Formation1 May 1959[1]
WebsiteAustralian Embassy

The ambassador of Australia to Belgium is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Kingdom of Belgium in Brussels. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation for Luxembourg (since 1970). The ambassador also acts as Australia's ambassador to the European Union (EU), since 1962,[2] and ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 2012.[3] The current ambassador is Caroline Millar since November 2021.[4]

Posting history

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Belgium and Australia have enjoyed official diplomatic relations since 1 May 1959 when Australia appointed Edwin McCarthy, ambassador to the Netherlands in The Hague, as the non-resident ambassador to Belgium.[1] McCarthy also served as Australia's first ambassador to the European Communities, when he was appointed in March 1962, just before he left his post in the Netherlands and Belgium, until he retired in 1964.[5][6] When McCarthy retired, Ralph Harry succeeded him as both ambassador to Belgium and the European Communities (became the EU in 1993).[7]

On 18 September 1970, the governments of Australia and Luxembourg announced the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassador level, with ambassador Owen Davis receiving dual accreditation while resident in Brussels.[8]

Australia has been involved on an official level (as a 'global partner') with NATO since 2005 and the first Australian ambassador to NATO was Brendan Nelson, appointed on 20 January 2012 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between NATO and Australia.[9]

List of ambassadors

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# Officeholder Image Other offices Residency Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1 Edwin McCarthy (subsequently appointed as
Ambassador to the European Communities) 		The Hague, Netherlands 1 May 1959 (1959-05-01) 7 March 1962 (1962-03-07) 2 years, 310 days [10][1][11][12]
2 Walter Crocker CBE
13 June 1962 (1962-06-13) January 1965 (1965-01) 2 years, 202 days [13][1][14]
– James Cumes (Chargé d'affaires) Brussels, Belgium 25 September 1961 (1961-09-25) January 1965 (1965-01) 3 years, 98 days [15]
3 Ralph Harry CBE A January 1965 (1965-01) 28 January 1969 (1969-01-28) 4 years, 27 days [16]
4 Owen Davis A 28 January 1969 (1969-01-28) 27 January 1972 (1972-01-27) 2 years, 364 days [17][18][8][19]
– Bruce Woodberry (Chargé d'affaires) 27 January 1972 (1972-01-27) 1972 (1972) 309 days [19]
5 Allan Eastman CBE A 1972 (1972) February 1975 (1975-02) 2–3 years [20]
6 James Cumes A February 1975 (1975-02) September 1977 (1977-09) 2 years, 7 months [21][22]
7 James Plimsoll
A September 1977 (1977-09) May 1980 (1980-05) 2 years, 8 months [23][24][25]
8 Roy Fernandez A May 1980 (1980-05) January 1983 (1983-01) 2 years, 8 months [26][27]
9 Harold David Anderson AO, OBE AC January 1983 (1983-01) August 1987 (1987-08) 4 years, 7 months [28][29]
10 Peter Curtis AC August 1987 (1987-08) October 1991 (1991-10) 4 years, 2 months [30][31]
11 David Sadleir AC October 1991 (1991-10) 27 April 1992 (1992-04-27) 6 months [32][33]
12 Ted Pocock AC June 1992 (1992-06) January 1997 (1997-01) 4 years, 7 months [34]
13 Donald Kenyon AC January 1997 (1997-01) May 2000 (2000-05) 3 years, 4 months [35]
14 Joanna Hewitt
AC May 2000 (2000-05) November 2003 (2003-11) 3 years, 6 months [36]
15 Peter Grey AC November 2003 (2003-11) January 2007 (2007-01) 3 years, 2 months [37]
16 Alan Thomas AC January 2007 (2007-01) January 2010 (2010-01) 3 years [38]
17 Brendan Nelson
ABC January 2010 (2010-01) October 2012 (2012-10) 2 years, 9 months [39][40]
18 Major General Duncan Lewis AO, DSC, CSC
ABC 18 October 2012 (2012-10-18) September 2014 (2014-09) 2 years [41]
19 Mark Higgie
ABC September 2014 (2014-09) 6 February 2018 (2018-02-06) 3 years, 5 months [42]
20 Justin Brown PSM
ABC 6 February 2018 (2018-02-06) 11 January 2021 (2021-01-11) 2 years, 340 days [43][44]
– Trudy Witbreuk (Chargé d'affaires) 11 January 2021 (2021-01-11) November 2021 (2021-11) 294 days [45]
21 Caroline Millar
ABC November 2021 (2021-11) incumbent 3 years, 2 months [45][46][4]

Ambassador to the European Communities

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# Officeholder Image Term start Term end Time in office Notes
(1) Edwin McCarthy 7 March 1962 (1962-03-07) 17 March 1964 (1964-03-17) 2 years, 10 days [5][6][47][48]
Subsequent appointments concurrently held by the Ambassador to Belgium

Notes

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^A Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the European Union, formerly the European Economic Community, 17 March 1964-present.
^B Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 20 January 2012-present.
^C Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ????-present.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Diplomatic Status To Be Increased". The Canberra Times. 2 May 1959. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ Delegation of the European Union to Australia (29 July 2013), "Diplomatic relations", Celebrating 50 years: EU-Australia (PDF), p. 25, archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2016
  3. ^ CA 2093: Australian Embassy, Brussels [Belgium], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 2 May 2015
  4. ^ a b Payne, Marise (19 October 2021). "Ambassador to Belgium" (Press release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government.
  5. ^ a b "MCCARTHY GIVEN NEW POST". The Canberra Times. 25 October 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 17 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b "Sir Edwin McCarthy Retires Today". The Canberra Times. 17 March 1964. p. 2. Retrieved 17 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Celebrating 50 years: EU–Australia – Australian Ambassadors to the EU" (PDF). Australia-EU Diplomatic Relations. European Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Diplomatic Appointments – Luxembourg". Current Notes on International Affairs. 41 (9): 493. September 1970. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Appointment of Australian Ambassador to NATO" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs – The Hon Kevin Rudd MP. DFAT. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Australian-Belgian Diplomatic Relations". Current Notes on International Affairs. 30 (5): 265. May 1959. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 33 (3): 56. May 1959. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  12. ^ Ambassador to the European Communities from 1962 to 1964.
  13. ^ "NEW ENVOY TO BELGIUM". The Canberra Times. 14 June 1962. p. 20. Retrieved 17 May 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 33 (1): 56. January 1962. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 32 (9): 58. September 1961. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 36 (1): 58. January 1965. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 40 (1): 33. January 1969. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 40 (2): 73. February 1969. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 43 (1): 26. January 1972. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 42 (11): 655. November 1971. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Four new envoys". The Canberra Times. 9 November 1974. p. 8.
  22. ^ "Representation – Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 46 (2): 100. February 1975. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Ambassadors appointed". The Canberra Times. 27 August 1977. p. 7.
  24. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 48 (10): 548. October 1977. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  25. ^ Sinclair, Ian (26 August 1977). "Diplomatic Appointments" (Press release). Australian Government.
  26. ^ Peacock, Andrew (27 March 1980). "Diplomatic Appointments" (Press release). Australian Government.
  27. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 51 (5). May 1980. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Ambassador to EC, Belgium and Luxembourg". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 53 (10): 628. February 1983. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 54 (2): 84. February 1983. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Hayden names 7 envoys". The Canberra Times. 25 August 1987. p. 3.
  31. ^ "Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Communities". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 58 (8). August 1987. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  32. ^ Evans, Gareth (31 May 1991). "Diplomatic Appointment – European Community and Belgium" (Press release). Australian Government.
  33. ^ "Sadleir to head ASIO". The Canberra Times. 7 March 1992. p. 3.
  34. ^ Evans, Gareth (30 June 1992). "Diplomatic appointment - EC and Belgium" (Press release). Australian Government.
  35. ^ Downer, Alexander (26 November 1996). "Diplomatic Appointment: Brussels" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  36. ^ Downer, Alexander (26 April 2000). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Belgium" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  37. ^ Downer, Alexander (9 October 2003). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities, Belgium and Luxembourg" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  38. ^ Downer, Alexander (18 December 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities and Belgium" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  39. ^ Smith, Stephen (17 September 2009). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the European Communities, Belgium and Luxembourg, Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Special Representative to the World Health Organization" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  40. ^ "Beazley, Nelson appointed to key diplomatic posts". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015.
  41. ^ Gillard, Julia (17 September 2012). "Diplomatic Appointment and Appointment of Secretaries of the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014.
  42. ^ Bishop, Julie; Brandis, George (15 May 2014). "Appointment of new Director-General of Security and nomination of new Australian Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union and NATO" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015.
  43. ^ Bishop, Julie (6 February 2018). "Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the EU and NATO" (Press release). Australian Government.
  44. ^ Workman, Alice (16 February 2021). "DPS departures". The Australian. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  45. ^ a b "About the Australian Embassy and Mission to the European Union and NATO". Australian Embassy Belgium, Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union and NATO. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  46. ^ Aston, Joe (29 September 2021). "Caroline Millar to be Australia's next Ambassador to the EU". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Australian Accreditation to the European Economic Community". Current Notes on International Affairs. 31 (5): 229. May 1960. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  48. ^ "Sir Edwin McCarthy". Current Notes on International Affairs. 35 (3): 45–46. March 1964. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
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