Overseas agricultural staff profiles
Mr Dominic Pyne
Counsellor (Agriculture) — Bangkok
Mr Pyne was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture) in Bangkok in 2009. The Bangkok office was opened in January 2006, to enhance market access in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.
Mr Pyne is focusing on developing new opportunities for Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry exports in ASEAN markets through improving cooperation and communication between Australia and regional industry and governments. Mr Pyne is also promoting regional understanding about Australia’s quarantine system and food safety issues. He is working to ensure Australian exporters successfully enter new export markets, as well as providing support to maintain existing markets, including Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. Mr Pyne reports on ASEAN agricultural policies so Australia can react quickly to changes in policy or administrative procedures which are likely to have an impact on our export markets.
Mr Pyne has extensive experience working on market access and trade issues and has previously been responsible for promoting Australia’s export interests in agricultural and food products. From 2001-2005, Mr Pyne served as the Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) in Brussels, working on market access and broad agricultural trade policy issues in the European Union. His experience includes working on a range of issues multilaterally through the World Trade Organization and bilaterally on free trade agreement negotiations.
Contact: Dominic Pyne
Phone: +66 2 344 6511
Fax: +66 2 344 6580
Ms Amy Guihot
Counsellor (Agriculture - Technical) — Beijing
Ms Guihot was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture) in Beijing in late December 2008.
A key focus of Ms Guihot’s work is on progressing technical market access issues, promoting Australia's interests in China and pursuing Australia’s agri-food trade policy objectives. Ms Guihot organises and takes part in regional visits and bilateral discussions. She works closely with the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the China-based offices of Austrade, and Australian agricultural industry groups.
Ms Guihot has a degree in applied science (medical laboratory science). Ms Guihot has worked across the Department in various roles, including managing areas of the Import Clearance and Animal Quarantine Programs of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
Contact: Amy Guihot
Phone: +86 10 5140 4155
Fax: +86 10 6532 5779
Australian Embassy, China (People's Republic of)
Mr James Lee
Counsellor (Agriculture – Policy) — Beijing
Mr James Lee was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture – Policy) in Beijing in July 2009.
Mr Lee’s key priorities are to support Australia’s efforts in free trade agreement negotiations with China and to improve market access conditions for Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. Mr Lee is also responsible for advocating for Australian agriculture interests as well as analysing and reporting on Chinese agricultural policies and trade issues.
Mr Lee has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and has wide portfolio experience. Prior to his appointment, Mr Lee was Manager of the department’s Marine Environment Section, working on fisheries bycatch, resource sharing and harvest strategy policies. Since 2001, Mr Lee has worked on a range of fisheries-related bilateral and multilateral activities. These have included Australia’s ratification of the convention that established the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, Australia’s participation in the APEC Fisheries Working Group and the negotiations to establish the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation. Prior to 2001 he worked on a range of issues including sanitary and phytosanitary measures, the development of Australia’s first Import Risk Analysis Handbook, quarantine policy as it relates to marine pests, and meat export policy.
Contact: James Lee
Phone: +86 10 5140 4212
Fax: +86 10 6532 5779
Australian Embassy, China (People's Republic of)
Mr Matt Koval
Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) — Brussels
Mr Matt Koval was appointed Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) Brussels in 2008.
Key areas of focus for Mr Koval involve maintaining and improving market access for Australia's agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food exports to the European Union (EU). In particular, Mr Koval provides analysis, reporting and advocacy on European agricultural policies and trade issues, including the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy; the use of export subsidies by the EU; the EU sugar regime and wine industry arrangements; the development of forest accreditation systems; and ensuring the smooth functioning of tariff quota arrangements which affect Australian exports of dairy, beef and sheep-meat products.
Mr Koval has tertiary qualifications in science, public administration and applied finance and investments. Prior to his appointment he was the General Manager of the Drought and Exceptional Circumstances Branch of the Rural Policy and Innovation Division and has extensive experience in drought policy, rural adjustment policy, responding to natural disasters and farmer education and training. Mr Koval has worked in the department for the last nine years.
Contact: Matthew Koval
Phone: +322 286 0513
Fax: +322 230 6802
Australian Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg and Australian Mission to the European Union
Dr Joffrid Mackett
Consul-Agriculture (Middle East) - Dubai
Dr Joffrid Mackett was appointed Agriculture Consul (Middle East) in Dubai in 2008.
Dr Mackett represents Australia on policy and technical issues relating to agricultural exports and works closely with government agencies and agricultural and industry groups in the region to build and maintain strong bilateral relations.
Dr Mackett’s work covers 13 countries including those in the Gulf, North Africa and Red Sea areas.
Dr Mackett is a veterinarian, with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree and a Masters of Clinical Epidemiology. He has previously worked as a Veterinary Officer for the Northern Territory Government in Alice Springs and as a District Veterinarian for the New South Wales Rural Lands Protection Board in Tenterfield.
Over the last 5 years, Dr Mackett has worked for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) in the Animal Product Market Access and the Live Animal Export programs.
Contact: Joffrid Mackett
Phone: +971 4 508 7187
Fax: +971 4 355 0719
Australian Consulate-General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dr John Ackerman
Counsellor (Agriculture) - Jakarta
Dr John Ackerman was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture) in Jakarta in 2006. The Jakarta office was opened in December 2006, as part of the Australian Government’s budget initiative to fight illegal foreign fishing.
Dr Ackerman is responsible for illegal fishing, biosecurity and quarantine issues with Indonesia, an integral part of the government’s ‘Security borders against illegal foreign fishing – enhanced regional engagement program’. He will also advance broader agricultural food, fisheries and forestry interests in the South-East Asian region.
Dr Ackerman is a research scientist with honours in tropical marine ecology and a PhD in fisheries biology. He has led marine research projects in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Belize and Mexico, assessing ecosystem-based management approaches. Dr Ackerman has provided scientific and policy advice for the sustainable harvest of state and Commonwealth fisheries through work in state government research institutes and the Fisheries and Marine Science Program within the Bureau of Rural Sciences. As part of the Australian Government response to the Indian Ocean tsunami relief effort, Dr Ackerman was based in the affected region immediately after the disaster. During this time he was instrumental in coordinating, developing, and progressing rehabilitation activities for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors damaged by the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Contact: John Ackerman
Phone: +62 21 2550 5455
Fax: +6221 2550 5504
Mr Ian Mortimer
Counsellor (Agriculture) — New Delhi
Mr Ian Mortimer was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture) in New Delhi in January 2009.
Mr Mortimer will work to maintain, enhance and develop new market access opportunities for Australian agriculture, fishery, forestry and food products in India. He also aims to advance Australia’s agricultural trade interests, through working to improve cooperation and communication with Indian government agencies and industry, and monitoring and reporting on India’s agricultural policies.
Mr Mortimer has tertiary qualifications in biological science and more than 15 years experience working with agricultural industries. At DAFF he has worked with various divisions including Trade and Market Access; Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health; and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Mr Mortimer most recently managed the Americas Section in the Trade and Market Access Division. The role focused on Australia’s bilateral agricultural trade relationship with the Americas. Mr Mortimer also has experience working with a number of other government departments and agencies including the former Department of Environment and Heritage and the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
Contact: Ian Mortimer
Phone: +91 11 4149 4354
Fax: +91 11 2688 7492
Australian High Commission, India
Mr Travis Power
Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) — Rome (FAO) & Paris (OECD)
Mr Travis Power was appointed Minister Counsellor (Agriculture) in July 2009. He is based in Rome, Italy.
Mr Power represents Australia’s interests at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and relevant agriculture committees of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
As Australia’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the FAO, Mr Power promotes Australia’s priorities on agriculture and food issues, such as food security, standard-setting and regulatory work, as well as on fisheries and forestry issues. He represents Australia’s interests in the major FAO governance and policy committee negotiations.
In the OECD, Mr Power represents Australia on committees relating to food, fisheries and agriculture. The OECD brings together the governments committed to democracy and the market economy and provides an opportunity for governments to compare policy experiences, seek answers to common problems, identify good practice and coordinate domestic and international policies.
Mr Power also represents Australia’s interest in bilateral engagements with Italy.
Mr Power holds a Bachelor of Science and has a number of positions with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, including General Manager, Policy Development. Mr Power has extensive experience in policy development across the portfolio, including in relation to natural resource management and international trade.
Contact: Travis Power
Phone: +3906 8527 2376
Fax: +3906 8527 2346
Australian Delegation to OECD, France
Mrs Paula Svarcas
Counsellor (Agriculture) — Seoul
Paula Svarcas was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture) in Seoul in December 2006.
A key focus of Mrs Svarcas’ work is to improve market access for portfolio industries and to increase Australia’s agricultural trade interests in Korea and Taiwan.
Mrs Svarcas has tertiary qualifications in Management (Public Policy). Prior to her appointment, Mrs Svarcas worked as the Executive Officer for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), providing high-level policy advice to the AQIS Executive Director. Mrs Svarcas’ Australian Public Service career has focused on the provision of policy advice and strategic planning. She has worked in quarantine and biosecurity operations and on policy and government relations issues, including as a Departmental Liaison Officer in the Office of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Contact: Paula Svarcas
Phone: +822 2003 0188
Fax: +822 722 6491
Australian Embassy, Korea (Republic of)
Ms Sally Standen
Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) — Tokyo
Ms Sally Standen was appointed Minister Counsellor (Agriculture) in Tokyo in 2008.
Priorities for Ms Standen in Japan include maintaining and improving market access for Australia's agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food exports. Ms Standen is responsible for analysing and reporting on Japanese agricultural policies and trade issues, and advocating for Australian interests. A key focus for Ms Standen is to support Australia’s efforts in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with Japan.
Ms Standen has an Executive Masters in Public Administration as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree. Before her appointment she was the General Manager of the Animal Welfare Branch and has extensive experience in animal and plant health policy and agricultural industry policy; particularly meat, wool and dairy. Ms Standen has worked in the Department for the past 12 years.
Contact: Sally Standen
Phone: +813 5232 4021
Fax: +813 5232 4029
Mr David Porritt
Counsellor (Agriculture) — Tokyo
Mr Porritt was appointed Counsellor (Agriculture) in Japan, based in Tokyo, in August 2009.
Mr Porritt is responsible for issues involving technical regulation of agricultural and food exports to Japan. He is working on addressing Sanitary and Phytosanitary barriers, in order to gain, improve and/or maintain access to the Japanese market.
Mr Porritt holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hon.) and Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies, specialising in Environmental Law. He has worked in a number of broad areas in agriculture and has worked in both the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Biosecurity Australia. Mr Porritt has extensive experience in maintaining and developing markets for Australian exporters through international negotiations. He represented Australia and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Southwest Pacific Region on various policy setting bodies of the International Plant Protection Commission (IPPC) and the international standards body of the IPPC (the Standards Committee) that aid in the development of the trade facilitation aspects of FAO's work program through developing International Standards on Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM’s) for a number of years.
Contact: David Porritt
Phone: +813 5232 4027
Fax: +813 5232 4029
Mr Simon Smalley
Minister-Counsellor (Agriculture) — Washington
Mr Simon Smalley was appointed Minister Counsellor (Agriculture) Washington, D.C in August 2009.
Mr Smalley will work to maintain and to advance Australia’s agricultural trade with the United States (US) of America, influence the development of US agricultural policy, build relations to advance common interests of both countries in international fora and support the implementation of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement.
Mr Smalley holds a Bachelor of Science with Honours and an Executive Masters in Public Administration. He has held a number of positions with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, including General Manager Water Reform. Mr Smalley has extensive experience in policy and program development particularly in relation to natural resource management. He has developed policy across Australian Government portfolios including Environment and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Contact: Simon Smalley
Phone: +331 4059 3370
Fax: +331 4059 3394
Australian Embassy, United States of America