Wilson held top posts in prior administrations across the Pacific, the Australian Foreign Minister said in a statement.

Wong urged the importance of the appointment in a country she described as Australia’s “close neighbours, friends and partners.”

“Australia and Timor-Leste continue to work closely together to advance our shared interests, including the mutually beneficial and commercially viable development of the Greater Sunrise gas fields consistent with the 2018 Maritime Boundary Treaty,” Wong said.  

Wilson has served as Deputy Head of Mission, Papua New Guinea; Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York; and with the OECD Delegation in Paris and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

Wilson will replace Ambassador William Costello and acting Ambassador John Feakes.

Australia was the largest donor to Timor-Leste last year,  giving nearly US$52 million for its 2023-2024 development budget, according to Australian government data.