The Diplomat in Spain

The Diplomat. 25/07/2018

New Australia’s Ambassador to Spain, Julie-Ann Guivarra, has already taken up her post, which was vacant since December 2016. After presenting Copies of her Credentials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she is waiting to present her Letters of Credence to His Majesty the King.

Julie-Ann Guivarra is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade where she was most recently Assistant Secretary at South East Asia Investment & Services Branch. She has previously served overseas as Agriculture Counsellor of the Australian Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (Geneva); and Second Secretary, Australian High Commission (New Delhi). In Canberra she has served as Assistant Secretary to South East Asia Analytical and Effectiveness Branch; Director of Services, Trade & Negotiations Section; and Director of Trade and Environment Section.

In the last year and a half, Ambassador Timothy Kane, has been the Charge d’Affaires a.i. after the previous Ambassador, Virginia Greville, was appointed to head the Department of Trade and Investment of the State of Queensland.

In an interview with Europa Press, Julie-Ann Guivarra affirms that she arrives to Spain with a double mandate: to reinforce the bilateral relationship in all areas, including the commercial one, and to work with countries such as Spain that share values ​​with Australia about challenges of the international agenda. But she has also proposed to explore two additional missions: «represent the modern face of indigenous peoples» and share experiences on how to boost the role of women in leadership positions».