Australia appoints Bryce Hutchesson as next High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

Canberra: Australia has appointed Bryce Hutchesson, a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and, as next High Commissioner to Sri Lanka from February next year. He will also have non-resident accreditation to the Maldives.

Announcing Hutchesson’s appointment Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop said Australia has a close and long-standing bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka, underpinned by growing trade and investment ties and extensive people-to-people links.

Two-way trade in 2014 was $830 million and Australia is home to a 130,000-strong Sri Lankan community.“Our relationship encompasses development cooperation, education and close collaboration on countering people smuggling and transnational crime,” Bishop said adding that the two countries work productively together to address shared regional and global challenges, including in the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Commonwealth.

Minister Bishop assured that Australia will continue to support Sri Lanka as it makes progress on national reconciliation.

Hutchesson is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Until recently he was acting First Assistant Secretary of the South and West Asia Division.

He has served overseas as Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi, with earlier postings in Bangkok and Tel Aviv. He has also served in Washington with the Office of National Assessments.

In Canberra, Hutchesson has led DFAT’s South Asia Branch, Executive, Planning and Evaluation Branch and several branches responsible for international security.

Hutchesson holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.

The new envoy designate is expected to take up his appointment in early February 2016.

“I thank outgoing High Commissioner Robyn Mudie for her contribution in advancing Australia’s interests in Sri Lanka since 2012,” Bishop said.