Australia has announced Jeremy Bruer as the next High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He will arrive in Bangladesh in mid-January, Australian foreign minister Marise Payne announced on Tuesday. Australia and Bangladesh enjoy a “warm and constructive” relationship, founded on the strong community links, shared Commonwealth values and sporting ties.
Australia was one of the first nations to recognise Bangladesh's independence in 1971. “Since that time, we have established a strong and growing economic relationship with two-way trade now valued at $2.4 billion annually, the foreign minister said while announcing the name. Australia is working closely with Bangladesh on Indian Ocean regional issues, including providing humanitarian support to address the Rohingya crisis and strengthening further education, trade and investment linkages.
Bruer is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently Assistant Secretary, Southeast Asia Maritime Branch. He has previously served overseas as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Deputy Head of Mission in Riyadh, and Second Secretary in Port Moresby.
In Canberra, he has served as Assistant Secretary, Papua New Guinea and Fiji Branch; Director, Iraq Rehabilitation Unit, Iraq Task Force; Executive Officer, International Organisations Branch; and Executive Officer, Pacific Islands Branch. Bruer holds a Master of Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Adelaide. Outgoing High Commissioner Julia Niblett has been serving Bangladesh since 2016.