Boasting 23 years of international experience spanning foreign policy, international development and strategic defence, humanitarian and Bachelor of Business Management graduate Caitlin Wilson was named winner of QUT’s Outstanding Alumni Award for the Business School at a ceremony in Brisbane today.
The annual QUT Outstanding Alumni Awards recognise outstanding graduates of the university (and predecessor institutions), who have displayed exceptional professional, academic or research achievements and contributions to the community.
Ms Wilson has dedicated her career to improving stability and security in conflict-affected countries, and promoting economic and social development as well as human rights internationally.
She currently holds the position of Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations.
This is her fourth overseas post, which have also included serving in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Europe.
Ms Wilson has held key roles in Canberra including being part of a team that designed Australia’s contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) – a role she held ahead of her posting to Honiara to help implement RAMSI on the ground.
Her most recent Canberra-based role was leading the G20 Development Working Group, the branch charged with delivering Australia’s international development objectives in the G20.
Under Ms Wilson’s leadership, the group initiated G20 commitments that enhanced the flow of remittances for developing countries and established a framework to guide future G20 investments in international agricultural development.
Her success in this role earned the respect of her Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade colleagues and gave way to her appointment as Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Mission to the UN.
Ms Wilson embodies Australian values and her supporters credit her as having a strong sense for social justice, believing everyone deserves a fair go.
One of Ms Wilson’s strongest international community contributions has been supporting gender equality, including the education of girls in Papua New Guinea and the recruitment and retention of women in the law and justice sector of Solomon Islands.
In her current role, her key commitments have particular emphasis on supporting the mobilisation of Australian effort towards improving gender equality, peaceful and inclusive societies, as well as sustainable oceans management.
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