High Commissioner to Samoa

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Sara Moriarty as Australia's next High Commissioner to Samoa.

Australia and Samoa share a strong and productive relationship underpinned by close security, economic and people-to-people links. Australia's development cooperation program in Samoa, valued at $37.2 million for 2017–18, is delivered in partnership with the Samoan Government and focusses on economic growth, critical infrastructure, governance, health and education. Our security ties are strengthened by our Defence Cooperation Program and the Samoa-Australia Police Partnership.

An increasing number of Australians are visiting Samoa each year as tourists, volunteers and participants in the New Colombo Plan. At the same time, the number of Samoans travelling to Australia is also increasing, including under the Australia Awards and Seasonal Worker Programme initiatives. Approximately 76,000 Australians identified themselves as of Samoan ancestry in the 2016 Census.

Ms Moriarty is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Director, Conditions of Service Section. Previously she served as Director, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan Section; Director, Caribbean Program; and Director, Pacific Governance, and has twice served overseas at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta, most recently as Counsellor (Climate Change and Environment). She holds a Master of International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney.

I thank outgoing High Commissioner Sue Langford for her contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Samoa since 2014.