Aussie Punjabi named new Oz envoy to India

Melbourne, Feb. 11: Australia on Thursday appointed veteran career diplomat Harinder Sidhu as its next high commissioner to India, the second Indian- origin official to serve as the country’s envoy to India in less than five years.

Ms Sidhu, whose family hails from Punjab, will be the second Indian- origin Australian high commissioner in India, after the former diplomat Peter Varghese, who served in India from 2009- 2012.

● Ms Sidhu, whose family hails from Punjab, will be the second Indian- origin Australian high commissioner in India, after former diplomat Peter Varghese

Melbourne, Feb. 11: Australia on Thursday appointed veteran woman career diplomat Harinder Sidhu as its next high commissioner to India, the second Indian- origin official to serve as the country’s envoy to India in less than five years.

Ms Sidhu, whose family hails from Punjab, will be the second Indian-origin Australian high commissioner in India, after former diplomat Peter Varghese, who served in India from 2009- 2012.

Ms Sidhu said she was looking forward to her new role in a dynamic country.

“India is one of the most exciting places for a diplomat to be at the moment. India’s economic prospects are bright and it is becoming a more influential and active international player,” he said, who was born in Singapore but migrated to Australia with her family as a child. “At a personal

level, I have always been fascinated by the country of my heritage and am keen to learn more about India – its language, culture and history – while I am there,” she added.

She will replace the outgoing high commissioner Patrick Suckling.

Ms Sidhu, a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been also serving as First Assistant Secretary of the Multilateral Policy Division.

She has previously served overseas in Russia and Syria.