Today I announce the appointment of Ms Claire Rochecouste as Australia’s next Ambassador to Portugal. Ms Rochecouste will also have non-resident accreditation to Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Australia and Portugal have a friendly bilateral relationship underpinned by shared values, strong community links and growing commercial ties.
We are committed to addressing current challenges to the rules-based order and the protection and promotion of human rights.
Australia and Portugal are pursuing opportunities to foster the trade and investment relationship, including through the negotiation of the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Ms Rochecouste is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was most recently Director, Levant and Iran Section. She has previously served overseas as Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Paris; Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Baghdad; Second Secretary, Australian Embassy, Kabul; and Second Secretary, Australian Embassy, Buenos Aires.
In Canberra, Ms Rochecouste has served as Director, Regional Engagement Section; and Portfolio Budget Coordinator, External Budget Section.
Ms Rochecouste holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School; Bachelor of Business from Monash University; and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.
I thank outgoing Ambassador Peter Rayner for his contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Portugal since 2016.
