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Today I announce the appointment of Ms Amanda Gorely as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. Ms Gorely will also be Australia’s Ambassador for Disarmament.

Australia’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva facilitates Australia’s active role in the UN, its specialised agencies and other forums based in Geneva. Through the Permanent Mission, Australia takes an active role in strengthening and reforming international institutions vital to upholding international rules and norms, including on human rights, humanitarian and refugee matters, migration, global health – notably in response to COVID-19, labour, the environment, telecommunications and disarmament. Key themes such as gender equality, persons with disabilities, UN reform and effectiveness, as well as partnering with the Pacific, are Australian priorities across all UN agencies.

Ms Gorely will serve as Australia’s representative to the UN Human Rights Council, the world’s peak body for promoting and protecting human rights. There, Ms Gorely will engage actively to support Australia’s commitment to human rights internationally, and influence global responses to major human rights issues, working alongside other states, UN mechanisms and civil society.

Ms Gorely will also be responsible for advancing Australia’s interests in disarmament, non-proliferation and conventional arms control in Geneva, including as Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament. Ms Gorely will work across a range of conventional and weapons of mass destruction forums, and with other stakeholders in disarmament and arms control, to strengthen global regimes and promote global security, cooperation and trust.

Ms Gorely is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is currently First Assistant Secretary, International Security Division, and Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation. She has previously served overseas as Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines; as well as in Wellington, Geneva and Stockholm. In Canberra she has held a number of senior legal, trade and human rights positions in DFAT.

Ms Gorely holds a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

I thank outgoing Ambassador Sally Mansfield for her contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Geneva UN since 2018, especially during Australia’s Human Rights Council membership 2018-20 and the global health response to COVID-19.