Today I announce the appointment of Dr Genevieve Clune as Australia’s next Ambassador to Estonia.
Australia and Estonia enjoy a long friendship. This year we celebrate 30 years since Estonia’s independence and the formal establishment of diplomatic relations.
Our two nations are committed to democracy, the global rules-based order and open trade.
We cooperate on an expanding multilateral agenda, including digital transformation, innovation, cyber-security and through Australia’s defence cooperation with NATO.
Our Embassy in Tallinn continues to operate as a ‘pop-up post’, an innovative approach to extending Australia’s diplomatic network. It will operate in Tallinn at intervals to support Australia’s involvement in high-level events and other engagement opportunities, while maintaining a virtual presence at other times.
Dr Clune is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). She has previously served overseas as Counsellor in Bangkok and Second Secretary in Paris, with short-term missions in New Delhi, Warsaw, Nairobi and Baghdad. In Canberra she has served in a range of policy roles including as an Adviser in the Office of the Foreign Minister.
Dr Clune holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Archaeology); and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia.
I thank former Ambassador Kerin Ayyalaraju for her contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Estonia since 2018.