From our first female Head of Mission, the Honourable Dame Annabelle Rankin, appointed as High Commissioner to New Zealand in 1971 to Claire Scott appointed as Consul-General to Papeete in May 2021, we have seen the ranks of women in the highest leadership positions overseas grow to over 40 per cent in January 2020.

The Portraits and Mirrors Exhibition was launched by Secretary Frances Adamson on International Women’s Day in March 2020. The exhibition features portraits of the first female Heads of Mission/Heads of Post throughout DFAT’s history.

The Portraits and Mirrors Exhibition will continue to be updated annually each International Women’s Day as more trailblazing women are appointed to represent Australia overseas at the highest levels.