22 April 2009
Diplomatic appointment - High Commissioner to Solomon Islands
Mr Frank Ingruber is to be Australia's new High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, succeeding Mr Peter Hooton who has been High Commissioner since January 2007. Mr Ingruber is expected to take up his appointment in early May 2009.
Australia has a close and cooperative partnership with Solomon Islands and a strong interest in its growth and development. Australia is committed to assisting the Solomon Islands address the challenges it faces in improving the lives of its people. Australia's bilateral relations with Solomon Islands include shared regional interests, a substantial development assistance program and longstanding people-to-people and commercial links.
Australia has recently signed a Partnership for Development with the Solomon Islands which commits our two countries to working together to meet common challenges. The Partnership focuses on better service delivery particularly in rural areas, more sustainable economic growth and reform, economic livelihoods, and improved economic infrastructure.
The Partnership for Development will complement our work to promote peace and prosperity through our leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum's Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Since July 2003, RAMSI has made significant progress in helping Solomon Islands address key challenges to law and order, growth and economic management.
Honiara is also the headquarters of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), an important regional organisation comprising 17 members, including Australia. The FFA makes a strong contribution to the management, conservation and sustainable use of Pacific fisheries resources.
Mr Ingruber is currently Deputy Head of Mission (and from 28 August 2008 to March 2009, Acting Australian High Commissioner) in New Zealand. Prior to taking up this posting to Wellington, Mr Ingruber was Director, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos Section with responsibility for implementing the Australia-Thailand Free Trade Agreement. He was Director of the APEC Business Liaison and Ecotech Section (1999-2000) and Director of Korea Section (1995-1998). Mr Ingruber was promoted to Assistant Secretary in June 2005.
Mr Ingruber served overseas as Australia's High Commissioner to Cyprus (2000-04), Deputy Head of Mission in Ottawa (1992-95), and Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission in Manila (1989-92). He has also served in the Australian Embassies in Caracas and The Hague.
Educated at the Australian National University, Mr Ingruber holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours in Political Science and Sociology. He is married to Marian van der Velde and has a daughter, Alicia, and son, Anthony.
Media inquiries: Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555