Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd has announced that Dr Stephen Henningham will be the country's new High Commissioner to Samoa.
Dr Henningham is expected to take up his appointment in January and replace Matt Anderson who has been High Commissioner since January 2007.
He has previously served overseas in Ho Chi Minh City, Bougainville, Port Moresby and Noumea.
He is also the author of academic works on the history and politics of the Pacific islands region.
