Today I announce the appointment of Ms Sanchi Davis as Australia’s next Consul-General in Makassar.
There is no more important partner for Australia than Indonesia. Our partnership and friendship is underpinned by the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security (the Jakarta Treaty 2026), and we work closely together to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.
Australia’s economic relationship with Indonesia continues to strengthen. Bilateral trade has almost tripled since the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into force in 2020. We also continue to expand our economic engagement through implementation of Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
The Consulate-General in Makassar plays a key role in Australia's economic engagement and promotion of our interests in 12 of Indonesia’s eastern provinces, a region with a population of over 34 million people, while also supporting our consular and development objectives.
The historic relationship between seafarers from Makassar and First Nations people of northern Australia was built around trade. It is the foundation for the people-to-people contact that is at the very heart of Australia’s relationship with Indonesia.
Ms Davis is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently on secondment to Bappenas, the Indonesian National Development Planning Ministry, as a liaison officer while serving at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.
She has previously served overseas in Indonesia and Nigeria.
I thank outgoing Consul-General Todd Dias for his contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Makassar since 2023.