The Australian Government has announced the appointment of John Feakes as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Fiji.
In making the announcement, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop says Feakes is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently High Commissioner to Kenya.
He has served overseas in Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and the United States.
In Canberra Feakes has held a range of positions including Assistant Secretary, Policy Planning Branch and Assistant Secretary, Strategic Affairs Branch.
Feakes holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from the University of New South Wales.
He is expected to take up his appointment in November 2017.
Bishop also thanked outgoing High Commissioner Margaret Twomey for her outstanding contribution to rebuilding Australia’s relationship with Fiji and to advancing regional cooperation in the Pacific.
Bishop stated Australia and Fiji share an enduring friendship, underpinned by strong people-to-people links and significant trade and investment ties.