List of ambassadors of Australia to Chile

Ambassador of Australia to Chile
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHis Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
ResidenceSantiago
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderJohn Duncan
(as Minister to Chile)
Formation1946

The Ambassador of Australia to Chile is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Republic of Chile. The ambassador resides in Santiago.[1] The current ambassador, since February 2020, is Todd Mercer.

The post was first established in 1946, and was withdrawn in May 1949, as a cost saving measure by the Australian Government.[2] The post reopened in 1968.[3]

List of heads of mission

Ordinal Name Office Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
1 John Duncan Minister to Chile 1946 1948 1–2 years [4][5]
n/a John Cumpston Chargé d'affaires 1948 1949 0–1 years
n/a Cavan Hogue Chargé d'affaires 1968 1969 0–1 years
2 Noël Deschamps Ambassador to Chile 1969 1973 3–4 years
n/a Ian James Chargé d'affaires 1973 1974 0–1 years
n/a Alan Brown 1974 1976 1–2 years
3 Ian Nicholson Ambassador to Chile 1976 1979 2–3 years
4 Gerald Harding 1979 1983 3–4 years
5 Kevin Flanagan 1983 1987 3–4 years
6 Malcolm Dan 1987 1991 3–4 years
7 Matthew Peek 1991 1996 4–5 years
8 Kenneth Berry 1996 1997 0–1 years [6]
9 Susan Tanner 1997 1999 1–2 years [7]
10 John Campbell 1999 2002 2–3 years [8]
11 Elizabeth Schick 2002 2005 2–3 years [9]
12 Crispin Conroy 2005 2009 3–4 years [10]
13 Virginia Greville 2009 2012 2–3 years [11]
14 Tim Kane 2012 2016 3–4 years [12]
15 Robert Fergusson January 2017 (2017-01) February 2020 (2020-02) 3 years, 1 month [13]
16 Todd Mercer February 2020 (2020-02) 2023 (2023) 4 years, 10 months [14]

References

  1. ^ CA 7830:Australian Embassy, Chile [Santiago], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 April 2015
  2. ^ "Diplomatic positions terminated". The Advertiser. Adelaide, South Australia. 20 April 1948. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Chile names envoy". The Canberra Times. ACT. 7 June 1969. p. 10.
  4. ^ "Chile post to Mr. Duncan". The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Queensland. 29 December 1945. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Ex-Minister dies: Mr. J.S. Duncan". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 March 1949. p. 5.
  6. ^ Evans, Gareth (8 June 1995). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador To Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016.
  7. ^ Downer, Alexander (16 May 1997). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador To Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  8. ^ Downer, Alexander (5 August 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador To Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  9. ^ Downer, Alexander (20 September 2005). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015.
  10. ^ Downer, Alexander (20 September 2005). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  11. ^ Smith, Stephen (24 February 2009). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  12. ^ Carr, Bob (29 May 2012). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Chile" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  13. ^ Payne, Marise (2019). "Alex Gallacher: Australian Ambassador inquiry". Hansard: Australian Senate. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Ambassador to Chile". 18 February 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.