Deputy Secretary Ewen McDonald serves as the inaugural Head of the Office of the Pacific within DFAT. In support of Ministers, Mr McDonald facilitates our efforts to build stronger relationships with Pacific leaders, government and peoples, as well as with regional organisations and institutions. He engages actively and consults widely with our Pacific island partners to ensure Australia’s development assistance is delivering on our shared priorities for a prosperous, sovereign and stable region.
Prior to his appointment, Mr McDonald was Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, with accreditation to the Cook Islands and Niue, working closely with New Zealand on collaboration and cooperation in the Pacific. Mr McDonald has served as Deputy Secretary in the department from 2013 and has been responsible for development, humanitarian and multilateral policy and strategy.
Prior to joining DFAT, Mr McDonald was Deputy Director General at AusAID and Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations.
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