MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia now has an Ambassador for HIV/AIDS.
Ms Annmaree O'Keeffe, formerly Special Representative for HIV/AIDS will assume her role as Ambassador on 20 May 2006.
The upgrading of this appointment is part of the Australian Government's renewed commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS.
With more than 20 years development experience, Ms O'Keeffe is well placed to further cooperation with Australia's regional partners and encourage political, business and community leaders in the Asia-Pacific region to provide the direction and support needed to meet the world's HIV/AIDS threat.
She is a steering committee member of the UNAIDS Asia-Pacific Leadership Forum; a consultative council member of the Australian National University Centre for Democratic Institutions as well as on the advisory council of Griffith University's Asia Institute.
Ms O'Keeffe is concurrently Deputy Director General at the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) responsible for Global Programs.
Previously in AusAID, Ms O'Keeffe was Deputy Director General of the Pacific, Contracts and Corporate Policy division; Assistant Director General, Pacific and Africa branch; and Minister-Counsellor for Development Cooperation at the Australian High Commission, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Ms O'Keeffe was also Australia's Ambassador to Nepal from 1994 to 1996.
Prior to joining the Australian Government in 1984, Ms O'Keeffe worked as a journalist in Africa and Britain then joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1980, based first in Bangkok and then at ICRC headquarters in Geneva from 1980 to 1983.
Ms O'Keeffe holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland (1975) with majors in Economics, Psychology and Journalism; and a Master of Arts in Asian International Relations from Griffith University (1994).
Media contacts:
Matt Anderson (Minister's Office): 0408 053 141
AusAID (Public Affairs): 0417 680 590