Media Release
22 May 2025
Australia’s new Ambassador to Indonesia, Rod Brazier, visited Makassar, South Sulawesi on 20-22 May 2025. Ambassador Brazier lived in Makassar and studied at Universitas Hasanuddin (UNHAS) in 1990.
Ambassador Brazier visited many places he remembered from his time living in Makassar and spent time with members of his host family with whom he lived as a student.
During his meeting with the Governor of South Sulawesi, Andi Sudirman Sulaiman, Ambassador Brazier spoke fondly about his memories of living in Makassar with his host family and travelling around South Sulawesi as a student.
He also recalled accompanying the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, on the first official visit by an Australian Prime Minister to South Sulawesi in 2022. During that visit, Prime Minister Albanese emphasised that the Australian Government understands Indonesia is more than Jakarta or Java, which the Prime Minister repeated when he met President Prabowo Subianto last week.
“Makassar has developed a lot since I had the pleasure of living here, but the people are just as friendly, and the food is just as delicious. It is an honour to return to Makassar as Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia,” said Ambassador Brazier.
While in Makassar, Ambassador Brazier also met with the Mayor of Makassar, Munafri Arifuddin, and fellow members of IKAMA, the Australian alumni association in South Sulawesi.
Together with the Australian Consul-General in Makassar, Todd Dias, Ambassador Brazier joined the Rector of UNHAS Prof Jamaluddin Jompa, in delivering the Kompetisi Gagasan Sosial Inovatif (KGSI) program for university students in Makassar. Held at UNHAS, KGSI is a competition designed to support and develop initiatives that create positive social and/or environmental impact. This program aims to provide a platform for university students to present their ideas on educational issues in the digital era and is a collaboration between the Australian Embassy and Narasi.
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Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kedubesaustralia/albums/72177720326287031/