Patrick Suckling appointed as Australia's Next High Commissioner to India

Career diplomat Patrick Suckling on 30 December 2012 had been appointed as Australia’s next High Commissioner to India.

Patrick Suckling who is a career diplomat and had been previously posted to New Delhi and Washington is going to take up the position in New Delhi in January 2013.

The appointment of Patrick Suckling was announced by Foreign Minister Bob Carr who asserted that the role was important because India is Australia’s fourth largest export market, with trade between the two countries reaching 18-billion dollars a year.

Suckling is replacing Peter Varghese, who is returning to Australia to head the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Suckling holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Hindi from the University of Sydney and as a career diplomat had an expertise in policy development, public diplomacy and consular service.

Patrick Suckling was adviser to Foreign Minister Downer in 2007, a senior official to APEC in 2008 and headed the International Division in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from March 2009 to May 2011. His most recent position in Canberra was head of DFAT’s Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division.