Mildura’s Dean Wickham has secured a top job as the next Solomon Islands Honorary Consul in Victoria.
Mr Wickham stepped down from his post as executive officer of the Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC) in August last year after more than a decade with the organisation.
The Solomon Islands government appointed Mr Wickham to the role and the Australian government accepted his nomination in January.
Mr Wickham will commence his official duties later this month, a position he will hold for the next five years.
The appointment comes as the Solomon Islands steps up its presence in Australia. In less than two years, the government has re-opened two new posts; a new Consulate General office in Brisbane and an Honorary Consul post in Victoria, with consultations underway to appoint another SI Honorary Consul for New South Wales. The posts will support the High Commission in Canberra.
Australia remains Solomon Islands’ largest aid donor with recent bilateral cooperation in labour mobility, trade, education, security, health, women and gender programs, infrastructure development and renewable energy.
Mr Wickham, who has lived in Australia for 30 years and is an Australian resident, will bring a wealth of experience to his new role in the fields of labour mobility, business, and investments, education, agriculture, media, intercultural expertise, and sports.
