Anne Maree Plunkett (born 1952) is a senior Australian public servant and career diplomat. She was the Australian

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

to Portugal from 2012 to 2016, with non-resident accreditation to Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. She was previously Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland and the Holy See ( Vatican) between 2006 and 2008.

Early life and education

Plunkett was born in Armidale, New South Wales, in 1952. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the

University of New England University of New England may refer to: * University of New England (Australia), in New South Wales, with about 18,000 students * University of New England (United States), in Biddeford, Maine, with about 3,000 students See also *New England Colle ...

Career

Plunkett's first diplomatic position was deputy consul in Honolulu, from 1974 to 1976. She spent the next three years as third secretary of the Australian High Commission in

Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam (; from ar, دَار السَّلَام, Dâr es-Selâm, lit=Abode of Peace) or commonly known as Dar, is the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. It is also the capital of Dar es Salaam Region. With a population of over s ...

. She was also posted to Fiji (as First secretary), India, Tanzania and Hawaii. Plunkett also held a number of positions in the

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the department of the Australian federal government responsible for foreign policy and relations, international aid (using the branding Australian Aid), consular services and trade and inv ...

in Canberra. In 2005, as Director of Protocol in the Department, Plunkett met with would-be Chinese defector

Chen Yonglin Chen Yonglin () is a former Chinese diplomat who sparked fears of a diplomatic incident through his defection to Australia in the summer of 2005. The episode highlighted the tensions faced by China's trade partners when concerns arise from that ...

to advise that the Australian Government expects resident foreign diplomats to return to their countries at the end of their postings. In January 2006, Plunkett was appointed Australian Ambassador to Ireland, with concurrent accreditation to the Holy See. Her Holy See appointment was formalised by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 May 2006 when he accepted her letters of credence. While Ambassador to the Holy See, Plunkett accepted a Papal rebuke over Australia's treatment of its Aboriginal people, when the Pope called for ongoing attention to the social situation of Aboriginal people. As ambassador in Ireland, during her frequent public appearances, Plunkett was noted for her ability to "pepper" ambassadorial speeches with "amusing anecdotes." In July 2008, the Australian Government elected to appoint a resident ambassador to the Holy See and Plunkett's role in the Vatican was handed on to another appointee. She continued as Ambassador to Ireland. From November 2009 to December 2011, Plunkett was Assistant Secretary, Protocol Branch and Chief of Protocol. In May 2012, Plunkett was appointed Australian Ambassador to Portugal, with non-resident accreditation to Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. She took up her appointment at the end of the year, and presented her credentials to the Portuguese Government in April 2013. Her appointment in Portugal concluded on 19 April 2016.

Personal

Plunkett is married and has three children.

External links

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plunkett, Anne Living people Ambassadors of Australia to the Holy See Ambassadors of Australia to Ireland University of New England (Australia) alumni Ambassadors of Australia to Portugal Ambassadors of Australia to Cape Verde Ambassadors of Australia to Guinea-Bissau Ambassadors of Australia to São Tomé and Príncipe 1952 births Australian women ambassadors