MELBOURNE, 16 June 2023: Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong today announced the appointment of Philip Green OAM as High Commissioner to India. She also announced Ms Hilary McGeachy as Australia’s first Consul-General in Bengaluru. Philip Green OAM will replace Barry O’Farrell AO, as the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner to India is also accredited to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The appointments come amid continued warming up of relations between between the two countries, and the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Australia.
In her media release Penny Wong says, ” The Australia-India relationship has never been closer. Australia and India share perspectives, challenges and a democratic heritage. We are working together, through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as Quad partners, to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where sovereignty is respected.
Along with our deepening defence and security cooperation, Australia and India have a mutually beneficial economic partnership, which will expand as we work towards finalising an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement.”
Mr Green is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Australia’s Ambassador to Germany. He has previously served overseas as Australia’s High Commissioner to Singapore, to South Africa, and to Kenya.
The Bengaluru Consulate-General will be Australia’s fifth diplomatic mission in India, with consular responsibilities for the states of Karnataka and Telangana. Ms McGeachy is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She has previously served overseas in India and Germany.
Lisa Singh, CEO Australia India Institute, in a Tweet said, ” Congratulations Philip and Hilary. Look forward to working with you both. And thank you Barry for your immense dedication to the role of ’s High Commissioner to India. It’s been great working with you.”
