Her Excellency Ms Gillian Bird
Australia’s Ambassador to France with non-resident accreditation to Algeria, Mauritania and Monaco
Ms Bird was Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from January 2015 to October 2019. From 2004 to 2014, Ms Bird served as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Between 2008 and 2013, she held the additional role of Australia's first Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Before taking up her position as Deputy Secretary, Ms Bird served as First
Assistant Secretary, International Division, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (2002-2004). Prior to this appointment, she was Head, Foreign and Trade
Policy White Paper Task Force (Advancing the National Interest) within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Her previous positions in the department include First Assistant Secretary, South and South-East Asia Division (1999-2002), First Assistant Secretary, International Organisations and Legal
Division (1997-1999), Assistant Secretary, Peace, Arms Control and Disarmament Branch (1994-1997) and Assistant Secretary, Executive Branch (1993-1994). She has also worked in the Office of the Minister for Trade Negotiations.
Ms Bird’s overseas assignments have included UN New York (1990-1993), Harare (1986-1987) and Paris OECD (1980-1983). Ms Bird joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1980.
Ms Bird was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2012 for outstanding public service in the field of International Relations. She was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by James Cook University in 2020 for exceptional contribution to international relations.
Ms Bird holds a BA (First Class Hons), University of Sydney and is a graduate of the French École Nationale d'Administration.
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Ms Ruth Stone OAM
Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador to Chad (Non-Resident), Australian Embassy, Paris
Ruth Stone is the Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy, Paris. She also serves as non-resident Ambassador to Chad.
Ms Stone is a senior career officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Before taking up her current role, Ms Stone worked in Canberra as Assistant Secretary, Vietnam and Mekong Strategy Branch; Assistant Secretary, Climate and Environment Policy Branch; and Assistant Secretary, Human Rights and Social Inclusion Branch.
Ms Stone has previously served overseas as Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. She was Communications Director for the World Health Organisation in Beijing.
Ms Stone holds a Master of Arts (Foreign Affairs and Trade) from Monash University in Melbourne and a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Hons) from Murdoch University in Perth. She speaks French.