ANU alumna is Australia’s next ambassador to World Trade Organisation

An alumna of The Australian National University (ANU) has been appointed Australia’s next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva.

Frances Lisson PSM (B. Economics ’88, Grad Dip Foreign Affairs and Trade ‘92) is expected to begin her posting in January 2017.

“Ms Lisson will also represent Australia in the World Intellectual Property Organization, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Economic Forum,” Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, said.

Ms Lisson is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Division. She also served as Australia’s Chief Negotiator for economic partnership agreements with Indonesia and also India.

“Ms Lisson was lead negotiator for Australia’s FTAs with China, Japan and Korea,” Ms Bishop added.

“Previously, she was Assistant Secretary for Trade Policy and Industrials in the Office of Trade Negotiations.”

Ms Lisson has also served as Australia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, and Deputy High Commissioner, Ottawa, with earlier postings in Tokyo and Suva.

She was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) in the Queen's Birthday 2015 Honours for her outstanding public service in the establishment of free trade agreements with China, Japan and Korea.