Ambassador to Mexico
Today I announce the appointment of Dr David Engel as Australia's next Ambassador to Mexico. Dr Engel will also have non-resident accreditation to Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua.
Relations between Australia and Mexico are strong and growing. In 2016 we will commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Mexico is an important partner for Australia in key international forums, including the UN, APEC, WTO, G20, OECD and the Pacific Alliance.
Our collaboration through the MIKTA group of countries (Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia) gives substance to our enhanced political engagement.
Australia's commercial relations with Mexico are strengthening as a result of Mexico's recent and far-reaching structural reform program. The prospective benefits from the recently concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement are significant.
Mexico is Australia's largest trading partner in Latin America, with total merchandise trade of about $2.5 billion in 2014. Australian investment in Mexico is now worth more than $5 billion, with around 100 Australian companies operating in Mexico.
Australia enjoys growing economic ties and strong people-to-people links with all the countries to which Dr Engel will be accredited.
Dr Engel is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Until recently, he was Minister and Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, where he had earlier served as First Secretary. He has also served as Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Washington.
In Canberra, Dr Engel has served as Assistant Secretary of DFAT's Policy Planning Branch and Assistant Secretary of the Global Issues Branch. He previously served in the Office of National Assessments as Assistant Director-General for Southeast Asia.
Dr Engel holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of New South Wales. He speaks Spanish and Indonesian.
He is expected to take up his appointment in December 2015. I thank outgoing Ambassador Timothy George for his contribution to advancing Australia's interests in Mexico since 2012.