Ambassador to Morocco
Statement attributable to the Hon Julie Bishop MP:
Today I announce the appointment of Ms Berenice Owen-Jones as Australia’s first resident Ambassador to Morocco.
Australia and Morocco enjoy close ties and celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2016. We share strong people-to-people links, with many thousands of Australians visiting Morocco each year.
The establishment of an Australian Embassy in Rabat and appointment of an Ambassador to Morocco is an important addition to Australia’s diplomatic presence in Africa and part of the single largest expansion of our diplomatic network in 40 years.
Our Ambassador to Morocco will lead efforts to enhance bilateral ties and open new areas of cooperation, including expanding trade and investment links in food and agriculture, infrastructure planning and sustainable development, mining, oil and gas, and health.
Australia values Morocco’s significant contribution to international efforts to fight global terrorism and violent extremism, and we work together as members of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The new Embassy will enhance our ability to collaborate further on counter-terrorism and security issues.
Ms Owen-Jones is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently Director of Studies, Diplomatic Academy. In Canberra Ms Owen-Jones has held a range of positions including, Director, Security Policy and Clearances Section. She served overseas with DFAT at the Australian Embassy in Paris.
Ms Owen-Jones holds a Bachelor of Economics, Australian National University and Diploma of International Law, Australian National University. She is expected to take up her appointment in June 2017.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
