Canberran named Holy See envoy

Canberra woman Melissa Hitchman has been appointed Australia’s next Ambassador to the Holy See.

Ms Hitchman is an experienced career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and is currently Deputy Chief of Protocol, a position she has held since 2013.

She has previously served overseas as First Secretary at the Australian High Commission in London.

In Canberra, Ms Hitchman has served as Director, Regional and National Security Section; Director, Intelligence Review; and Director, International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Secretariat.

Ms Hitchman was also an adviser, International Division, in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

She holds a Master of National Security and a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the Australian National University.

She succeeds Ambassador John McCarthy, who has held the position since 2012.