Canberra, Australian Capital Territory; Sydney, New South Wales

On Thursday 27 May 2021, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Afterwards, the Governor-General received Mr Ian McConville, Chief of Protocol, Mr Neil Hawkins, Assistant Secretary, and Ms Alison Chartres, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Later, the Governor-General and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley hosted a lunch for the Middle East Heads of Mission. Guests included: Mr Ahmad Aldagreer, Deputy Head of Mission of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia; His Excellency Mr Monther Al-Eissa, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait; His Excellency Mr Saad Al-Shareef, Ambassador of the State of Qatar; His Excellency Mr Abdulla Alsubousi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates; Dr Basim Al-Tumma, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq; Ms Alison Chartres, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Excellency Mr Fereidoun Haghbin, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Mrs Zahra Haghbin; Mr Neil Hawkins, Assistant Secretary, East Asia Division, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Excellency Dr Ali Kraishan, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Mrs Lubna Kraishan; Associate Professor Karima Laachir, Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University; Mr Ian McConville, Chief of Protocol, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Excellency Mr Milad Raad, Ambassador of Lebanon and Mrs Roula Azar; Mr Paul Singer MVO, Official Secretary to the Governor-General; Ms Jo Tarnawsky, Deputy Official Secretary to the Governor-General and His Excellency Mr Mahmoud Zayed, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Then, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley travelled to Admiralty House, Sydney, New South Wales.

In the evening, the Governor-General received Mr Chris Hartley, Executive Director, Governor-General’s Australian Future Leaders Program.