The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, today made the following announcement;

"I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Murray Proctor as Australia's new Ambassador for HIV/AIDS.

Mr Proctor will take up his role as Ambassador on World Aids Day, 1 December 2007.

This appointment follows the imminent departure of the current and inaugural Ambassador, Ms Annmaree O'Keeffe, to work on global indigenous issues. I thank Ms O'Keeffe for her outstanding leadership and dedication as an advocate for Australia on HIV/AIDS, and for encouraging governments, the private sector and other institutions to work harder to halt the spread of the disease and reduce the suffering it causes.

The Government has committed to spend $1 billion by 2010 by increasing efforts to combat HIV, particularly in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and through regional programs across both Asia and the Pacific.

With almost 25 years experience in aid and development Mr Proctor will lead and coordinate these efforts, as well as promote collaboration and innovation in the front line response to the epidemic.

Mr Proctor is concurrently Deputy Director General, Asia Division for the Australian Government's overseas aid agency, AusAID. He was previously Assistant Director General, East Asia and his responsibilities have included Asia regional programs, health and communicable diseases programs. He has worked with the World Bank and for four years led Australia's aid program to PNG.

Mr Proctor holds degrees in Psychology and Economics from the University of Queensland and the Australian National University.