The Hon. Julie Bishop, Chancellor of The Australian National University (ANU), has been designated as the Special Envoy of the UN on Myanmar.
Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, made the appointment over night.
According to the UN, Ms. Bishop offers “senior leadership experience, extensive political, and legal management to the role.”
“Ms. Bishop has led international negotiation efforts and strengthened engagement with regional partners throughout her career, including the first-ever conciliation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the UN said in a statement.
Prior to becoming the first female Chancellor of ANU in the institution’s history in 2020, Ms. Bishop served as Australia’s first female foreign minister from 2013 to 2018.
In the Australian government, Ms. Bishop has occupied a number of other prominent roles, such as Minister for Ageing, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Women’s Issues, and Cabinet Minister for Education, Science, and Training. She practiced law for twenty years before becoming a member of Parliament in 1998.
In addition, she was appointed a Kissinger Fellow for her work on important global policy challenges and received the Weary Dunlop medal for her services to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I am deeply honored to be appointed Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations on Myanmar to help deliver on the mandate of the General Assembly and the Security Council Resolution of December 2022,” Ms. Bishop stated in reference to her UN appointment.
Since the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected administration in February 2021, there has been widespread warfare in Myanmar.
As Special Envoy on Myanmar, Ms. Bishop follows UN Undersecretary-General Noeleen Heyzer, who has called the effects of the military takeover “devastating” and noted that the level of violence in the Southeast Asian country is still “alarming.”
Professor Genevieve Bell, the Vice-Chancellor of ANU, congratulated the Chancellor on her appointment to the UN.
She stated, “Julie made an incredible contribution to global politics as Australia’s first female foreign minister.”
“To her remarkable career in international diplomacy, she is now adding Special Envoy.” This is a well-earned acknowledgment of her important contribution to modern international affairs.
“The entire ANU community wishes Julie all the best in this crucial role and congratulates her on this important appointment.”
Ms. Bishop will carry out her duties with the UN in addition to her position as Chancellor of ANU.