MS DEBORAH STOKES will be Australia's next High Commissioner in Papua New Guinea. She will take up her appointment next month, replacing Ian Kemish AM who has served with distinction during his four years in PNG.
Ms Stokes is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was most recently head of the international organisations and legal division.
She has previously served as Australia's Ambassador to Austria and as deputy head at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo.
Ms Stokes has also held senior positions in AusAID.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Adelaide and a Master of Philosophy from the University of Cambridge.
In her most recent post, Ms Stokes advises on Australia’s involvement in the United Nations, Commonwealth and other international organisations, with a focus on peacekeeping, human rights and international environment issues.
Just hope the Oz commission has a 24/7 phone connection. No answer when I was in trouble on a weekend.
Posted by: Warren Hennessy | 12 February 2013 at 08:03 PM
We will sorely miss Mr Kemish. We will miss his deep understanding of us, his practical approach to dealing with PNG and ensuring Australia does not overplay its hand in PNG.
Under Mr Kemish, we saw Australia play more of a mentoring role in PNG and shed the infamous "sheriff of the Pacific" image it acquired for itself not so long ago.
Posted by: David Kitchnoge | 12 February 2013 at 01:41 PM
Congratulations to Ms Stokes. I wish her well in her new post.
I hope she will be able to demonstrate to the people of PNG that women can do a good job in senior positions in the public service.
I did notice that Justice Cathy Kodana has recently been made the PNG High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands. Congratulations to her as well. She should do a good job.
It is just a pity that she is not running an ICAC in PNG!
Posted by: Mrs Barbara Short | 12 February 2013 at 01:17 PM