Today I announce the appointment of Ms Bronwyn Robbins as Australia’s new Consul-General in Makassar, Indonesia. This position has responsibilities throughout the provinces of Gorontalo, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Maluku, North Maluku, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, West Sulawesi and West Papua.
Australia and Indonesia are close partners, neighbours and friends. Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects our mutual commitment to strengthening cooperation across a broad range of issues, and the recently ratified Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership (IA-CEPA) will further boost economic ties between our countries.
The Consulate-General in Makassar plays an important role in advancing Australia’s trade, commercial and investment interests in eastern Indonesia, while also supporting foreign policy, consular and development objectives. A key focus for the Consulate-General will be reinvigorating trade and investment links in eastern Indonesia to support rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Australia has a long history of trade with the people of Makassar, and there is great potential to build further ties in fields including agriculture, mining services and education.
Ms Robbins is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was most recently Director, Southeast Asia Development Section. She has previously served overseas in Jakarta, Colombo, Bangkok, and Pretoria.
Ms Robbins speaks Indonesian and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) from the Australian ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ University.
I thank outgoing Consul-General Richard Mathews for his contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Makassar since 2016.
