KUWAIT: The newly appointed Australian Ambassador-designate to Kuwait, Her Excellency Melissa Kelly, visited the Australian University (AU) to meet its executive management and be introduced to its offerings and facilities. HE Melissa Kelly is a foreign and trade policy professional with over 15 years of experience in diplomacy, international negotiations, and international law.

Prior to being selected as Ambassador-designate in the Australian Embassy of Kuwait, she held the positions of First Secretary at the Australian Embassy at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2019 to 2022, Acting Deputy Ambassador at the Australian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, during 2017, and First Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Kellywas welcomed to the University by Prof Isam Zabalawi, AU President, in his office in a meeting also attended by Dr Usameh Jamali, AU Board of Trustees member. During the meeting, Prof Zabalawi and the Ambassador-designate discussed the trends of the higher education sector in the two countries along with possible opportunities for further collaboration.

Prof Zabalawi also presented HE Kelly with an overview of AU's teaching, learning, research, and service to community activities. Afterwards, HE Kelly was further welcomed by other senior members of management. Following the welcome meetings, Kelly was given a tour of the AU campus by Johanne Flynn, Manager of International Relations, where she was shown around the various buildings and facilities. At the conclusion of the visit, Prof Zabalawi thanked the Ambassador-designate for the robust relationship between AU and the Australian Embassy in Kuwait which continues to open a wealth of opportunities across a range of academic and professional activities and events.

It's worth mentioning that the Australian University has kept a close relationship with the Australian Embassy, and it often collaborated with former ambassadors, being guests of honor in many of the University's events, them working to foster AU's relationship with Central Queensland University and Engineers Australia, giving speeches in University conferences and exhibitions, and holding positions as judges in University organized competitions, and as such the University looks forward to a positive relationship and future collaboration with Kelly.