 |
The Embassy of Australia in Geneva |
Contact
Address
Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Chemin des Fins 2
1218 Grand-Saconnex
or
P. O. Box 115
1218 Grand-Saconnex
Phone Number
+41 22 799 91 00
Fax Number
+41 22 799 91 75
Website
http://www.geneva.mission.gov.au
Email
un.geneva@dfat.gov.au
The Ambassador
H.E. Ms. Clare Monica Walsh
H.E. Ms. Clare Walsh commenced her role as Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Conference on Disarmament in Geneva in July 2025. She is a senior officer of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and previously served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at DFAT. Before this, she was Deputy Secretary at the Australian Department of Finance, leading the Business Enabling Services Group. From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Walsh served as Deputy Secretary of DFAT’s Global Cooperation, Development and Partnerships Group, overseeing Australia’s engagement on international development and multilateral cooperation. From 2016 to 2018, she was Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Japan.
Ms. Walsh has extensive experience in international policy, development cooperation, and multilateral affairs. She led work on development priorities during Australia’s 2014 G20 Presidency and contributed to Australia’s engagement in shaping the post-2015 development agenda and discussions on development finance. She has managed Australia’s relationships with multilateral organizations, including multilateral development banks and global health, education, and environmental funds. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles in Australia’s Department of Climate Change and Department of the Environment. Ms. Walsh holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies, and a Master of Management.
History
Australia was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945 and has remained actively engaged in the organization since its establishment. Australia views the UN as a central forum for addressing global challenges that require collective action and has worked through the organization to advance international peace and security, economic and social development, human rights, and environmental protection. Australia has served as an elected member of the UN Security Council five times, most recently in 2013–2014, and has made longstanding contributions to UN peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and multilateral initiatives.
The Australian Mission to the United Nations and Conference on Disarmament in Geneva is one of Australia’s five diplomatic posts dedicated to representing its interests within the UN system, alongside missions in New York, Vienna, Rome, and Nairobi. Geneva hosts a wide range of UN bodies and specialized agencies, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), as well as key international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The Australian Mission works through diplomacy, negotiation, advocacy, and cooperation with these organizations and international partners to advance Australian priorities, support humanitarian action, promote development, and protect human rights. Australia is also a significant contributor to many Geneva-based organizations and engages in shaping their strategic direction in line with its foreign policy objectives.
