APEC Ambassador

Joint media release:

  • The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Minister for Trade and Investment

20 September 2013

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb today announced Mr Sam Gerovich as Australia's Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

APEC is the Asia-Pacific region's pre-eminent economic forum. Its 21 member economies are home to more than 2.8 billion people and include eight of Australia's top-ten trading partners such as China, Japan and the United States. Over 70 per cent of Australia's total trade in goods and services is with APEC economies.

Mr Gerovich will work to achieve Australia's priorities within APEC including cross-border education cooperation, infrastructure investment and development, services liberalisation, regulatory reform and improving supply chain performance.

Mr Gerovich will work closely with Indonesia, this year's APEC host, and with China, the 2014 host, to support APEC in promoting economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Gerovich is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently First Assistant Secretary of the Department's Trade and Economy Policy Division. He has previously served as Ambassador to Korea, Consul-General in Shanghai, Australian Representative in Taipei, Deputy Head of Mission in Beijing and had earlier postings in Tokyo, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Mr Gerovich has also served as First Assistant Secretary of the North Asia Division and the Diplomatic Security, Information Management and Services Division.

Mr Gerovich holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours from the University of Sydney and has studied at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He is married with two adult children. Mr Gerovich speaks Chinese, Japanese and Russian.

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