Penny Williams (diplomat)

Penny Williams PSM (born in Wynyard, Tasmania, 22 January 1964) is an Australian public servant and diplomat. From 2007 to 2010, Williams was Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia.

Penny Williams PSM
Born (1964-01-22) 22 January 1964
Tasmania
NationalityAustralian
Alma materAustralian National University
(Asian studies and applied anthropology and participatory democracy)
OccupationPublic servant, diplomat
ChildrenFour

Life and career

Born in Tasmania, Williams' mother was a teacher. Penny Williams joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in 1988 as a graduate of the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Arts in Asian studies and a Masters of applied anthropology and participatory democracy. [1] Earlier, before becoming a student at ANU, in 1981-82 she had spent time in Indonesia as an exchange student at the Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) 1 PSKD school (Perkumpulan Sekolah Kristen Djakarta Senior High School No 1) near the University of Indonesia in Salemba in Central Jakarta.[2] After joining DFAT she had postings to Damascus, Syria (1992-1994) and to Santiago, Chile (1997-2000).

Williams represented Australia as High Commissioner to Malaysia from 2007 to 2010,[3] her first ambassadorial posting.[4] From 2011 to 2013 she was Australia's Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, the first appointee to that position.[5] As Ambassador for Women and Girls, Williams advocated to end domestic violence, empower women and increase representation of women in leadership roles globally.[6][7] She was also often invited to make public appearances, including on the media, to discuss women's issues.[8] Williams was later appointed a Deputy Secretary in DFAT in February 2017, first in charge of the International Security, Humanitarian and Consular Group, and after April 2018 with responsibilities for the Services Delivery Group in the Department.

Williams was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2015[5] for "outstanding public service in the role of Australia's inaugural Global Ambassador for Women and Girls".[9]

References
  1. Needham, Kirsty (14 September 2011). "First ambassador for women calls on Australia to lead change". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  2. 'Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls visits Jakarta', Australian Embassy, 1 May 2012.
  3. Downer, Alexander (30 January 2007). "Diplomatic Appointment – High Commissioner to Malaysia" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  4. Gabriel, Paul (9 March 2007). "Penny Williams is new Aussie High Commissioner designate". The Star. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  5. Ms Penny Williams, Geneva Centre for Security Policy, archived from the original on 7 April 2016, retrieved 29 January 2017
  6. "Federal Government names first Global Ambassador for Women and Girls". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  7. Chan, Juliana (13 September 2011). "Julia Gillard Appoints Penny Williams As Global Ambassador For Women And Girls". Asian Scientist.
  8. Stronger Futures for Afghan Women, Address to the UN Women's National Committee Fundraising Event, 'A Night at Sydney Opera House', 28 June 2013, Sydney, and Presentation One Just World, 16 May 2013.
  9. It's an Honour, 26 January 2015.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
James Wise		 Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia
2007–2010		 Succeeded by
Miles Kupa
New title Ambassador of Australia for Women and Girls
2011–2013		 Succeeded by
Natasha Stott Despoja
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