Today I announce the appointment of Mr Andrew Barnes as Australia’s next Ambassador to Lebanon.

Australia and Lebanon enjoy a longstanding relationship underpinned by strong community and cultural links that span multiple generations. There are more than 200,000 Australians of Lebanese heritage and many thousands of Australians live in or visit Lebanon every year.

Lebanon faces many challenges, including ongoing economic pressures, COVID-19, and the aftermath of the devastating Beirut Port explosions of August 2020.

Australia has a proud history of supporting humanitarian action in Lebanon, with a $105 million commitment as part of our response to the Syria crisis and the Beirut Port explosions, including $15 million in 2020-2021. We have also delivered planeloads of emergency relief supplies, most recently in November 2021, to assist households in need.

Mr Barnes is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission in Hanoi, High Commissioner to Ghana and in Ottawa and Stockholm. He holds a Graduate Degree from Stockholm University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University.

I thank outgoing Ambassador Rebekah Grindlay for her contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in Lebanon since 2018, including particularly her work supporting the people of Lebanon and embassy staff following the 2020 Beirut Port explosions. Ambassador Grindlay’s leadership in maintaining diplomatic and consular operations after the embassy was severely damaged in the explosions, is deeply appreciated.