John Pilbeam appointed as Australia’s high commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago

John Pilbeam has been appointed as the next High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago.

The announcement comes from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who says that Pilbeam will also be accredited as the Australian Ambassador to the Caribbean Community.

Pilbeam is going to handle Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.

Trinidad and Tobago, one of the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean, is Australia's largest trading partner in the region. In 2013-14, there was a total two-way trade of $29 million.

Australia has a long history of diplomatic relations with Caribbean nations, which is further boosted by historical and people-to-people links. There is a strong sporting relation between the nations as well.

“Our cooperation with the region focuses on climate change, economic diplomacy, responding to natural disasters, and coral reef management,” Bishop says in a media release.

Pilbeam is going to replace outgoing High Commissioner Ross Tysoe AO and is expected to join the office in February 2016. Bishop thanked the outgoing high commissioner “for his contribution to advancing Australia’s interests in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean since 2013.”

Pilbeam holds a Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne and a Graduate Diploma in East Asian Studies (Korea), Australian National University. Until recently, the career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was the Director of the Korean Peninsula and Mongolia Section.

In 2004, the then Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, the longest serving in Australia’s history, announced Pilbeam’s appointment as Australia's High Commissioner to the Republic of Vanuatu. Pilbeam replaced Stephen Waters who had been the high commissioner since January 2002.

According to a media release in 2004, Pilbeam is married and has three daughters.

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