Speaker Information

Opening Session

Julie Isabel Bishop

  • Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar

    Keynote Speech

    On 5 April 2024 the Secretary General of the United Nations announced that he had appointed Ms. Bishop as Special Envoy on Myanmar, effective 26 May 2024. Ms. Bishop brings extensive political, legal, management and senior leadership experience to the role. She has held several high-level positions in the Australian Government, serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs (2013-2018), Cabinet Minister for Education, Science and Training, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues and Minister for Ageing. She was a member of the Australian Parliament (1998-2019), following a 20-year legal career.

    Throughout her career, Ms. Bishop has strengthened engagement with regional partners and led international negotiation efforts, including the first ever United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea conciliation. Ms. Bishop is currently the Chancellor of the Australian National University. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Adelaide, Australia.

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