Manila: Australia has appointed Marc Innes-Brown PSM as its next ambassador to the Philippines, its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) announced Wednesday. The seasoned diplomat, who will succeed outgoing Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu PSM, is a senior career officer who has served overseas as Australia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, and had previous postings in Thailand and the United States.
According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the appointment, highlighting the strategic importance of the Australia-Philippine partnership. Wong thanked outgoing Ambassador Yu for her contributions in strengthening the bilateral ties since 2022. She emphasized the strong and long-standing relationship between the two nations, which is built on mutual trust and cooperation.
In a post on X, Ambassador Yu expressed her well wishes for Innes-Brown as he prepares to take on his new role over the next three years, focusing on advancing the Australia-Philippine Strategic Partnership. This partnership is crucial for cooperation in areas such as defense and security, trade and investment, development, education, and energy transition.
Wong also highlighted the significant Filipino community in Australia, noting that over 400,000 people of Filipino descent reside in the country, making them the fifth largest migrant community. This demographic underscores the strong people-to-people ties that further bolster the relationship between Australia and the Philippines.