In the evening at Government House, the Governor of Tasmania, the Honourable Barbara Baker, and Emeritus Professor Don Chalmers hosted a reception for the Consular Corps of Tasmania.

In her ceremonial role, the Governor regularly welcomes Ambassadors and High Commissioners from nations around the world to Government House.

These official visits are coordinated by Tasmania’s corps of Honorary Consuls, who help to facilitate diplomatic relations and economic partnerships between our State and the nations they represent.

Today 29 countries are represented by Honorary Consuls in Tasmania, but the history of the Corps in the State stretches back to 1843 – indeed, some countries which no longer exist have even been represented during that time.

The Governor hosted the annual reception to celebrate the work of the Consular Corps at Government House, welcoming new Honorary Consuls and thanking retiring Honorary Consuls for their service.

The reception was also an opportunity to farewell the outgoing Dean of the Consular Corps, Professor Nitin Verma, who has been Honorary Consul for Timor-Leste in Tasmania since 2006, and welcome his successor as Dean, Frank McGregor, Honorary Consul for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.