Ms Sidhu was appointed Deputy Secretary, International Security, Legal and Consular Group in July 2025. Prior to this, Ms Sidhu was Australia’s High Commissioner to New Zealand from 2022 to 2025.
Ms Sidhu is a career diplomat with wide experience in the public service. She served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2020 to 2022.
From 2016 to 2020, Ms Sidhu was Australia’s High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bhutan. She headed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Multilateral Policy Division from 2013 to 2015. Ms Sidhu has also served overseas in Cairo, Damascus, and Moscow.
Ms Sidhu was First Assistant Secretary at the Department of Climate Change from 2008 to 2013 and Assistant Director-General in the Office of National Assessments from 2004 to 2008.
From 1998 to 2004, Ms Sidhu held Senior Economic and Defence Adviser roles at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Ms Sidhu holds degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Sydney. In 2024, Ms Sidhu was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to public administration, and to foreign affairs.