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 with 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.
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 Megan Anderson
Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador to Chad (Non-Resident), Australian Embassy, Paris
Megan Anderson is the Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy, Paris. She also serves as non-resident Ambassador to Chad.
Ms Anderson is a senior career officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Before taking up her current role, Ms Anderson worked in Canberra as Assistant Secretary, NGOs and Volunteers Branch, Humanitarian and Partnerships Division and as Director of Education in the Development Policy Division. Ms Anderson has undertaken previous overseas postings as Counsellor, Development Cooperation, Australian Embassy, Cambodia (2010-2013), First Secretary, Australian High Commission Vanuatu (2003-2005) and Second Secretary, Australian High Commission, New Delhi (2001-2003). Ms Anderson was a member of the Bougainville Peace Monitoring Group (2000).
Ms Anderson holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Government and a Bachelor of Arts (International Relations) from the University of Qld. She speaks French.