Sue Langford is Australia’s new High Commissioner to Samoa. She replaces outgoing Dr. Stephen Henningham.
Ms. Langford’s appointment was announced by Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, last week.
“Australia and Samoa share a close bilateral relationship through our aid, trade and security cooperation,” Ms. Bishop said in a speech posted on her Ministry’s website.
“We have worked closely together on recovery and reconstruction since the devastating Cyclone Evan in December 2012 and will continue to do so.
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“Our development assistance in Samoa is focused on health, education, economic governance, public sector reforms and strengthening civil society.”
The Minister also highlights that Australia cooperates with Samoa in maritime surveillance and resources protection under the Pacific Patrol Boat program.
“Australia also supports the Pacific Transnational Crime Coordination Centre, hosted in Apia, which brings together Pacific law enforcement, customs and immigration agencies to combat transnational crime.
“Samoa and Australia enjoy strong people-to-people links and a wide range of community and institutional connections.
“An increasing number of Australians are visiting Samoa each year as tourists and the number of Samoans travelling to Australia is also steadily increasing. More than sixty thousand Australian citizens or residents identify themselves as having Samoan ancestry.”
As for Ms. Langford, she is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was until recently a Director in the International Security Division.
Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Adviser to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Ms. Langford has also served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian High Commission in Port Vila and as First Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Honiara.
Ms. Langford holds a Master's Degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from the Australian National University.
Ms. Langford is scheduled to present her credentials to the Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi at Tuaefu today.
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