The ambassador of Australia to Belgium is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Kingdom of Belgium in Brussels. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (since 1970). The ambassador also acts as Australia's ambassador to the European Union (EU), since 1962, and ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 2012. The current ambassador is Angus Campbell since March 2025.
Posting history Belgium and Australia have enjoyed official diplomatic relations since 1 May 1959 when Australia appointed Edwin McCarthy, ambassador to the Netherlands in The Hague, as the non-resident ambassador to Belgium. McCarthy also served as Australia's first ambassador to the European Communities, when he was appointed in March 1962, just before he left his post in the Netherlands and Belgium, until he retired in 1964. When McCarthy retired, Ralph Harry succeeded him as both ambassador to Belgium and the European Communities (became the EU in 1993).
On 18 September 1970, the governments of Australia and Luxembourg announced the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassador level, with ambassador Owen Davis receiving dual accreditation while resident in Brussels.
Australia has been involved on an official level (as a 'global partner') with NATO since 2005 and the first Australian ambassador to NATO was Brendan Nelson, appointed on 20 January 2012 following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between NATO and Australia.
List of ambassadors
# Officeholder Image Other offices Residency Term start Term end Time in office Notes The Hague, Netherlands Ambassador to the European Communities from 1962 to 1964. – (Chargé d'affaires) Brussels, Belgium Owen Davis – Bruce Woodberry (Chargé d'affaires) years Donald Kenyon Peter Grey Alan Thomas Major General – Trudy Witbreuk (Chargé d'affaires) General incumbent
Ambassador to the European Communities # Officeholder Image Term start Term end Time in office Notes () Subsequent appointments concurrently held by the Ambassador to Belgium
Notes Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the European Union, formerly the European Economic Community, 17 March 1964-present. Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 20 January 2012-present. Served concurrently as the Australian ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ????-present.
See also Australia–European Union relations Foreign relations of Australia Foreign relations of NATO#Australia
References
External links
Australian Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg and Mission to the European Union and NATO