The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) hosted a morning tea on 16 February 2026 in honour of His Excellency the Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, during her official visit to Australia.
The event brought together members of the Commonwealth diplomatic corps, Heads of Mission accredited to Australia, senior representatives from DFAT, and other government officials. It provided an opportunity for attendees to engage in dialogue with the Commonwealth’s Secretary General, discussing shared priorities for the organisation and Australia’s engagement with the Commonwealth’s agenda.
Secretary-General Botchwey, who assumed her role on 1 April 2025, is the seventh Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and the first woman from the African continent to hold the position.
In her remarks to the assembled diplomats and officials, Secretary General Botchwey highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation, shared prosperity, and strengthened ties across Commonwealth member countries. She reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to addressing global challenges including economic inequality, climate change, and support for small states and island developing economies issues of relevance to many Pacific members.
Australian government representatives reiterated the ongoing importance of the Commonwealth as a platform for diplomatic engagement, development cooperation, and people-to-people connections across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
The gathering underscored the enduring relationship between Australia and the Commonwealth Secretariat, as Canberra continues to support initiatives that promote democratic governance, social inclusion, and sustainable development across member states.
The morning tea event was one of several engagements planned as part of the Secretary-General’s visit to Australia.
