15 Facts About Gillian Bird

Gillian Bird is a former Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, serving between 2015 and 2019.

Gillian Bird graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts and later studied at the Ecole nationale d'administration.

Gillian Bird joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1980, and from 1980 to 1983 was based in Paris where she was a representative of the Australian government to the OECD.

From 1986 until 1987 Gillian Bird served at the Australian embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, and from 1990 until 1993 at the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations in New York City.

Gillian Bird returned to Australia in 1993 and was appointed Assistant Secretary in the Executive Branch of the foreign ministry, and from 1994 to 1997 was Assistant Secretary in the Peace, Arms Control and Disarmament Branch.

From 1997 to 1999 Gillian Bird was First Assistant Secretary in International Organisations and Legal Division, and from 1999 to 2002 she was First Assistant Secretary in the South and South-East Asia Division.

Gillian Bird held this position until 2004, when she was appointed Deputy Secretary in the Executive Branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Concurrent to this role, in 2008 Gillian Bird was appointed as Australia's first Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations by Stephen Smith, then-Foreign Minister of Australia.

Australia became the first ASEAN dialogue partner in 1974, and Gillian Bird's appointment enabled Australia to continue friendly relations with the regional bloc, whilst giving it a voice in helping to solve regional issues.

Gillian Bird's term expired in October 2019 and she was replaced by former Senator Mitch Fifield.

Gillian Bird presented her credentials to the Director of State Protocol and Diplomatic Events at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, on 5 November 2020.

In July 2014 news sites outside of Australia reported that an unprecedented suppression order was issued by the Supreme Court of Victoria for an affidavit from Gillian Bird relating to allegations that Securency and Note Printing Australia agents had made bribes totalling million of dollars for the purposes of securing contracts to manufacture polymer banknotes to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries.

In 2012 Gillian Bird was awarded the Public Service Medal for her service over a sustained period, contributing significantly to advancing key priorities of successive Australian Governments in the field of international relations and delivery of consular services.

Gillian Bird played key roles in advancing the bilateral relations with key Association of South East Asian Nations countries which is of fundamental importance to Australian national interests.

Gillian Bird is an exemplar of the best traditions of the Australian public service and has delivered outcomes of long-lasting importance for Australia.