Anne Plunkett

Anne Maree Plunkett (born 1952) is a senior Australian public servant and career diplomat. She was the Australian Ambassador to Portugal since 2012 and 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.

Anne Plunkett
Anne Plunkett in 2013
Born
Anne Maree Plunkett

1952 (age 68–69)
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Alma materUniversity of New England
OccupationPublic servant and diplomat

Early life and education

Plunkett was born in Armidale, New South Wales, in 1952.[1][2][3] She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of New England.[3]

Career

Plunkett's first diplomatic position was deputy consul in Honolulu, from 1974 to 1976.[3] She spent the next three years as third secretary of the Australian High Commission in Dar es Salaam.[3][1] 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 in Canberra. In 2005, as Director of Protocol in the Department, Plunkett met with would-be Chinese defector Chen Yonglin to advise that the Australian Government expects resident foreign diplomats to return to their countries at the end of their postings.[4]

In January 2006, Plunkett was appointed Australian Ambassador to Ireland, with concurrent accreditation to the Holy See.[1][5][6] Her Holy See appointment was formalised by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 May 2006 when he accepted her letters of credence.[7][5] While Ambassador to the Holy See, Plunkett accepted a Papal rebuke over Australia's treatment of its Aboriginal people,[8] when the Pope called for ongoing attention to the social situation of Aboriginal people.[9] As ambassador in Ireland, during her frequent public appearances, Plunkett was noted for her ability to "pepper" ambassadorial speeches with "amusing anecdotes."[10][11]

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.[12]

From November 2009 to December 2011, Plunkett was Assistant Secretary, Protocol Branch and Chief of Protocol.[13]

In May 2012, Plunkett was appointed Australian Ambassador to Portugal,[14] with non-resident accreditation to Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe.[15] She took up her appointment at the end of the year, and presented her credentials to the Portuguese Government in April 2013.[16]

Personal

Plunkett is married and has three children.

  • Pope's Address to Australia's New Envoy, 18 May 2006, archived from the original on 2 October 2006, retrieved 19 May 2006
  • Thistleton, John (31 July 2012). "Irish eyes to smile at historic monastery". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.

References
  1. Downer, Alexander (16 January 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Ireland" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015.
  2. "Australia names new envoy to Ireland, Vatican". BBC. 16 January 2006. ProQuest 460758723.
  3. Logan, Emma (26 March 2006). "Anne – new Aust envoy to Ireland and the Holy See". The Catholic Weekly.
  4. Topsfield, Jewel (27 July 2005). "Chinese diplomat was urged not to defect". The Age. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  5. Dart, Jonathan (21 July 2008). "Tim Fischer gets Vatican posting". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  6. "Australian ambassador to Ireland loses Vatican role". Clerical Whispers. Clerical Whispers blog. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  7. McCall, Barry (8 March 2008). "Sharing a common heritage that links us across the world: The Australian ambassador, Anne Plunkett, spoke to Barry McCall, about Australia, Ireland and their ever-growing relationship". Irish Times.
  8. Goodall, Alan (29 May 2006). "Australia's dirty little secret". Japan Times. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  9. "Pope praises Aussie contribution to peacemaking". Catholic News. Australian Catholic University. 19 May 2006. Archived from the original on 14 April 2011.
  10. O'Brien, Tim (5 May 2007). "Work and home life balance examined". Irish Times. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  11. MacCarthy, Cathan (11 March 2007). "Inequality is more unequal for some . . . in the real world". Sunday Independent (Dublin). ProQuest 335459628.
  12. Doyle, Kevin. "Vatican role taken off Oz ambassador". Herald.ie. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  13. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassador to Portugal. Ms Anne Plunkett. Biography, Australian Government, retrieved 7 May 2015
  14. Carr, Bob (29 May 2012). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Portugal" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 31 January 2014.
  15. "Austrália dá apoio financeiro a São Tomé e Príncipe". Portuguese News Network. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  16. President of the Republic received letters credential from new Ambassadors in Portugal, Presidency of the Portuguese Republic, 9 April 2013, archived from the original on 7 May 2015
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
John Herron		 Australian Ambassador to Ireland
2006 – 2008		 Succeeded by
Bruce Davis
Australian Ambassador to the Holy See
2006 – 2008		 Succeeded by
Tim Fischer
Preceded by
Patrick Lawless		 Australian Ambassador to Portugal
2012 – 		Incumbent
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