Today I announce the appointment of Ms Karen Lanyon as Australia's next Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City.
The relationship between Vietnam and Australia continues to strengthen, particularly across issues of trade, politics and security. In March we signed the Declaration on Enhancing the Australia-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership providing a framework for increased cooperation between our countries.
Vietnam is Australia's 14th largest trading partner and the two-way trade of goods and services was valued at $10 billion in 2014. Vietnam is our third largest source of international students and in 2015 over 160 Australians will study in Vietnam under our New Colombo Plan.
Ms Lanyon is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and until recently was Consul-General in Los Angeles. Prior to this she was Director of DFAT's New South Wales State Office.
She has previously served overseas as Minister-Counsellor, and earlier as First Secretary, at the Australian Embassy in Indonesia; Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Cambodia; and Second Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Singapore.
Ms Lanyon holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees from the Australian National University.
Ms Lanyon is expected to take up her appointment in January 2016. I thank outgoing Consul-General John McAnulty AM for his contribution in advancing Australia's interests in Ho Chi Minh City since 2011.