List of ambassadors of Australia to Nepal

The ambassador of Australia to Nepal 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 Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The ambassador resides in Kathmandu. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by Leann Johnston since 12 September 2024.^[1]

Ambassador of Australia to Nepal
Incumbent Leann Johnston since 12 September 2024
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Style	Her Excellency
Reports to	Minister for Foreign Affairs
Seat	Kathmandu
Nominator	Prime Minister of Australia
Appointer	Governor General of Australia
Inaugural holder	Walter Crocker (resident in New Delhi)
Formation	26 February 1960
Website	Australian Embassy Nepal

Between 1960 and 1986, Australian representation was carried out by a non-resident ambassador based in the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. The Australian Embassy in Kathmandu was opened on 27 April 1984, and the first ambassador appointed in May 1986.^[2][3][4] According to the Australian Government, the diplomatic mission was opened to improve consular services for Australians in Nepal and to facilitate the delivery of the Australian aid program to the country.^[5]

List of heads of mission

#	Officeholder	Residency	Term start date	Term end date	Time in office	Notes
1	Walter Crocker	New Delhi, India	26 February 1960 (1960-02-26)	5 March 1962 (1962-03-05)	2 years, 7 days	[6][7][8]
–	Kevin Thomas Kelly (Chargé d'affaires)		15 March 1962 (1962-03-15)	10 June 1962 (1962-06-10)	87 days	[9]
–	Bill Pritchett (Chargé d'affaires)		10 June 1962 (1962-06-10)	21 February 1963 (1963-02-21)	256 days	[10][11][12]
2	James Plimsoll		21 February 1963 (1963-02-21)	28 January 1965 (1965-01-28)	1 year, 342 days	[13][14]
3	Arthur Tange		28 January 1965 (1965-01-28)	25 January 1970 (1970-01-25)	4 years, 362 days	[15]
–	Rob Laurie (Chargé d'affaires)		25 January 1970 (1970-01-25)	1 March 1970 (1970-03-01)	35 days	[16]
4	Patrick Shaw		1 March 1970 (1970-03-01)	26 September 1973 (1973-09-26)	3 years, 209 days	[17][18][19]
5	Bruce Grant		26 September 1973 (1973-09-26)	15 December 1975 (1975-12-15)	2 years, 80 days	[20][21]
6	Peter Curtis		26 February 1976 (1976-02-26)	5 December 1979 (1979-12-05)	3 years, 282 days	[22]
7	Gordon Upton		5 December 1979 (1979-12-05)	31 May 1984 (1984-05-31)	4 years, 178 days	[23]
8	Graham Feakes		31 May 1984 (1984-05-31)	4 May 1986 (1986-05-04)	1 year, 338 days	[24][25]
–	A. J. Sever (Chargé d'affaires)	Kathmandu, Nepal	27 April 1984 (1984-04-27)		2 years, 7 days	[1]
9	Diane Johnstone		4 May 1986 (1986-05-04)	December 1989 (1989-12)	3 years, 6 months	[26][27][28]
10	Les Douglas		December 1989 (1989-12)	13 April 1994 (1994-04-13)	4 years, 4 months	[29]
11	Annmaree O'Keeffe		13 April 1994 (1994-04-13)	28 October 1996 (1996-10-28)	2 years, 198 days	[30]
12	Brendan Doran		28 October 1996 (1996-10-28)	19 August 1999 (1999-08-19)	2 years, 295 days	[31]
13	Crispin Conroy		19 August 1999 (1999-08-19)	22 July 2002 (2002-07-22)	2 years, 337 days	[32]
14	Keith Gardner		22 July 2002 (2002-07-22)	28 October 2005 (2005-10-28)	3 years, 98 days	[33]
15	Graeme Lade		28 October 2005 (2005-10-28)	22 January 2009 (2009-01-22)	3 years, 86 days	[34]
16	Susan Grace		22 January 2009 (2009-01-22)	11 March 2013 (2013-03-11)	4 years, 48 days	[35]
17	Glenn White		11 March 2013 (2013-03-11)	21 March 2017 (2017-03-21)	4 years, 10 days	[36]
18	Peter Budd		21 March 2017 (2017-03-21)	19 March 2021 (2021-03-19)	3 years, 363 days	[37]
19	Felicity Volk		15 February 2021 (2021-02-15)	26 August 2024 (2024-08-26)	3 years, 245 days	[38][39]
20	Leann Johnston		12 September 2024 (2024-09-12)	incumbent	70 days	[40]

See also

• Australia–Nepal relations

References

1. CA 8005: Australian Embassy, Nepal [Kathmandu], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 April 2015
2. "Embassy to open in Nepal". The Canberra Times. 16 March 1984. p. 11.
3. "Opening of new Australian diplomatic missions". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 56 (11): 1131. November 1985. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
4. Hayden, Bill (14 March 1984). "Opening of Australian Mission in Nepal" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
5. "X – Diplomatic and Consular Relations" (PDF), Australian Year Book of International Law: 457, 1987, archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2012, retrieved 4 February 2017
6. "Australian High Commissioner to India". Current Notes on International Affairs. 29 (7): 437. July 1958. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
7. "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 29 (11): 777. November 1958. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
8. "Australian Ambassador to Nepal". Current Notes on International Affairs. 31 (2): 89. February 1960. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
9. "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 33 (3): 56. March 1962. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
10. Furlonger, Bob (8 February 2014). "William Pritchett: From diplomat to head of Defence Department". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 15 February 2014.
11. "Australian gift parcels in India". The Canberra Times. ACT. 11 January 1963. p. 13.
12. "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 33 (6): 66. June 1962. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
13. "Sir James Plimsoll for India". The Canberra Times. ACT. 22 February 1963. p. 3.
14. Barwick, Garfield (21 February 1963). "Appointment of Australian High Commissioner to India". Department of External Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
15. "Department of External Affairs: Appointments". Current Notes on International Affairs. 36 (1): 51. January 1965. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
16. "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 41 (2): 86. February 1970. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
17. "Mr Patrick Shaw to India". The Canberra Times. ACT. 2 March 1970. p. 1.
18. McMahon, William (1 March 1970). "Australian High Commissioner in India" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Department of External Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
19. "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 41 (4): 246. April 1970. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
20. Whitlam, Gough (26 September 1973). "Senior Australian diplomatic appointments" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
21. Peacock, Andrew (20 November 1975). "High Commissioner's application for leave" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
22. Peacock, Andrew (26 February 1976). "Appointment of High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
23. Peacock, Andrew (5 December 1979). "High Commissioner to India" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
24. "Feakes named for India post". The Canberra Times. ACT. 1 June 1984. p. 3.
25. Bowen, Lionel (31 May 1984). "Diplomatic appointment - India and Nepal" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
26. Hayden, Bill (May 1986). "Ambassador to Nepal". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 57 (5): 453. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
27. Cole, Kerry (5 May 1986). "Her Excellency to take upgraded post in Nepal". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
28. Davis, Peter (31 May 1989). "Trekking ambassador takes responsibility in her stride". The Canberra Times. p. 27.
29. Duffy, Michael (11 October 1989). "Diplomatic Appointment - Nepal" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
30. Evans, Gareth (13 April 1994). "Diplomatic appointment: Nepal" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
31. Downer, Alexander (28 October 1996). "Diplomatic appointment: Ambassador to Nepal" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
32. Downer, Alexander (19 August 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador To Nepal" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
33. Downer, Alexander (22 July 2002). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Nepal" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
34. Downer, Alexander (28 October 2005). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Nepal" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
35. Smith, Stephen (22 January 2009). "Diplomatic appointment – Ambassador to Nepal" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
36. Carr, Bob (11 March 2013). "Ambassador to Nepal" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
37. Bishop, Julie (21 March 2017). "Ambassador to Nepal". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
38. Payne, Marise (19 March 2021). "Ambassador to Nepal". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 20 March 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
39. "Felicity Volk appointed as new Australian ambassador to Nepal". The Himalayan Times. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
40. Wong, Penny. "Ambassador to Nepal". Retrieved 23 September 2024.

External links

• Australian Embassy Nepal