Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Lucienne Manton as Australia’s new Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking.

The Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking plays a lead role in promoting international cooperation to counter people smuggling in support of Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB). Ms Manton will work closely with the OSB Joint Agency Task Force to coordinate the international elements of OSB across the Government.

The Ambassador will progress Australia’s substantial regional and international efforts to combat human trafficking and modern slavery. This includes work as co-chair with Indonesia of the 45-government Bali Process, the preeminent regional grouping working to address these transnational crimes.

Ms Manton is a senior career officer with DFAT and was most recently Assistant Secretary, EU Political and Strategy Branch. She has previously served with the United States Branch, People Smuggling Taskforce, Iraq Taskforce and at the Australian High Commission in London. She also worked as Assistant Secretary, International Division, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Ms Manton holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.

I thank outgoing Ambassador Bryce Hutchesson for his contributions to Australia’s efforts to combat people smuggling and human trafficking since 2019.

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